FIRST ALERT: Tracking Franklin, Gert, soon-to-be Harold, and another system near Africa

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - The tropics remain very busy with several named storms and a few others likely to develop this week.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 9

According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, the center of Tropical Depression Nine was located near latitude 25.2 North, longitude 91.6 West. The depression is moving toward the west near 18 mph.

A fast motion to the west is expected to continue, and the system is forecast to move inland over south Texas by midday Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and the system is expected to become Tropical Storm Harold before it reaches the Texas coast.

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the south Texas Coast.

The depression is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 7 inches, across South Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday. Areas of flash flooding will be possible.

A couple of tornadoes are possible across south Texas on Tuesday.

TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN

Heavy rainfall from Franklin is expected across portions of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola through the middle of the week. The heavy rainfall may produce areas of flash and urban flooding as well as river rises and mudslides. Across Hispaniola, significant and potentially life-threatening flash flooding is possible Tuesday into Wednesday.

The latest update shows the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located near latitude 14.3 North, longitude 70.1 West. Franklin is moving slowly toward the west near 5 mph, and a slow westward motion is expected through this evening. A sharp turn to the north is expected on Tuesday with this general motion continuing into Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is forecast to reach the southern coast of Hispaniola by early on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast before Franklin reaches Hispaniola. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.

Franklin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 6 inches, across Puerto Rico through the middle of the week. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated higher amounts up to 15 inches, will be possible across portions of Hispaniola.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION GERT

The center of Tropical Depression Gert was located near latitude 17.1 North, longitude 57.5 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph. Gert or its remnants should turn northwestward overnight or tomorrow. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 30 mph with higher gusts. Gert could dissipate at any time.

CHANCE OF DEVELOPMENT

Showers and thunderstorms over portions of the tropical eastern Atlantic are associated with a tropical wave. Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form later this week while it moves west-northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic.

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