Tropical Storm Sara formed in the western Caribbean Sea on Thursday, making it the eighteenth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
So far, forecasters do not expect Sara to reach hurricane strength before it passes over the Yucatan peninsula.
"It is too soon to determine what impacts, if any, the system could bring to portions of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, including Florida, during the middle portion of next week," said Hurricane Specialist Larry Kelly at the National Hurricane Center.
USA Today reported that forecasters say it would first have to clear several hurdles to become a hurricane that strikes Florida, including a cold front expected to sweep across the Gulf of Mexico early next week that could "obliterate the storm" before it reaches the Florida peninsula
“It’s much too soon to determine what impacts this system could eventually bring to portions of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, including Florida, the Florida Keys and Cuba during the middle portion of next week, but residents in these areas should regularly monitor updates to the forecast,” National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said.