Could it be the first Florida named storm of the season? The Tampa TV weather gurus are all keeping an eye on some weather picking up in the tropics today. As Denis Phillips always says, don't forget rule #7: "Don't freak out until I tell you to, we're fine." But it's going to be a system to keep updated on over the next few days just in case there are some impacts to Florida.
Paul from Fox 13 this morning said the atmosphere "will soon be conducive for development." He said the models show a wide range of possible paths. But a few of the models show Florida being in play. Some show the storm developing and moving east of Florida over the Atlantic. But a few take the storm in the Gulf.
The National Weather Service out of Tampa Bay echoed Setzer on X this morning, saying "It Is too early to say whether or not this will develop into anything significant or where it might go." But they do say this will be a great weekend to "freshen up preparedness plans."
As of 8AM this morning (July 27), the National Hurricane Center said the disturbance is moving near the Lesser and Greater Antilles.
Here are thoughts from ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips about the "yellow blob." Seems a lot less scary when you just call it a yellow blob, doesn't it? Thanks Denis. Let's just hope the yellow blob doesn't mess things up for us next week. Of course we'll keep you updated with the latest information from Denis and the entire ABC Action News weather team if this system does become threat to Tampa Bay.
I'll never forget seeing these photos. I'd imagine being there and seeing it in person was pretty special. Irma caused a lot of stress and damage. Power was out for days. Fortunately it could have hit Tampa harder and been a lot worse. But we'll never forget Hurricane Irma this week back in 2017.
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Tampa residents John and Daniel Redd share a kiss and some champagne as they join others in inspecting the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: With the sky turning dark above her and the wind picking up, a jogger runs on Bayshore Boulevard along Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Florida Begins Preparing For Hurricane Irma
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Residents work together to fill sandbags for each other at Bobby Hicks Park as residents prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Massive Hurricane Irma Bears Down On Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Tampa residents load sandbags with beach sand at Gandy Beach as residents and visitors in Florida prepare for, and evacuate ahead of, Hurricane Irma on September 09, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Current tracks for Hurricane Irma shows that it will hit Florida's west coast on Sunday. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: With the sky darkening and the wind picking up, two men hide from the rain at a bus stop as they debate flagging down a police officer to ask for a ride to a shelter ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Military equipment sits in the parking lot at Raymond James stadium ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: With the sky darkening and the wind picking up, a resident returns home on his bicycle after an unsuccessful last trip out of his home to find an open store selling food ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Military equipment sits in the parking lot at Raymond James stadium ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: The few motorists remaining on the roads pass empty fuel pumps at a closed gas station ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: With the sky darkening and the wind picking up, the few remaining motorists on Dale Mabry Highway pass a billboard displaying the current track of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Powerful Hurricane Irma Slams Into Florida
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
