Facebook Twitter
Sunday, June 4, 2023 | 
U.S. & World

The first tropical storm is about to make landfall in the U.S. Here’s where it will hit

The U.S. will see the first tropical storm of the season — Claudette — hit later this week

By Herb Scribner Herb Scribnerhscribner@deseretnews.com
SHARE The first tropical storm is about to make landfall in the U.S. Here’s where it will hit
Vehicles maneuver after Hurricane Sally in Orange Beach, Alabama.

In this Sept. 16, 2020, file photo, vehicles maneuver on a flooded road near a boat washed up near the road after Hurricane Sally moved through the area in Orange Beach, Ala.

Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

The United States will see the first tropical system of the season hit land by the end of the week, CNN reports.

What is Tropical Storm Claudette?

The tropical storm — named Claudette — is the third tropical storm to be named for the 2021 season and the first storm with the heavy potential of hitting land, according to CNN.

  • The storm — which is currently in the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Mexico — is expected to bring up to 20 inches of rain to the South, USA Today reports.
  • Chances of rain from the storm are 70% for the next 48 hours due to the storm. There is also a 90% chance of rain for the next five days in the Gulf of Mexico, per CNN.
Related

Will it hit land?

Possibly. If it hits the United States, it would likely hit anywhere from the Texas coast to Florida. Louisiana appears to be a possible target for the storm, too, according to USA Today.

Will this become a hurricane?

Probably not, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller told USA Today.

  • “A hurricane is unlikely,” he said.
  • However, “a mere tropical depression or tropical storm can unleash a tremendous amount of rain once over land, and that remains the primary concern,” he said.
Related

Any other storms brewing?

Per Yale Climate Connections, there isn’t another major storm building in the Atlantic Ocean right now. Tropical Storm Bill lasted 24 hours last week, becoming an extratropical storm with heavy winds. But it broke apart.