Tropical Storm Arlene becomes first named storm of 2023 hurricane season in Gulf of Mexico
The first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Arlene, formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday. Hurricane Hunter aircraft recorded around 40 mph sustained winds, which is the peak intensity expected by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The system was previously known as Invest 91L on Wednesday before being designated as Tropical Depression Two on Thursday. Arlene is currently located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, over 200 miles west of Fort Myers, Florida. It is not expected to make direct landfall but could impact western Cuba by Sunday.
The FOX Forecast Center stated that despite adequate water temperatures supporting tropical development in the Gulf, Arlene is not expected to strengthen over the weekend due to upper wind levels and dry air. Although Arlene’s track is expected to keep the storm offshore with no direct U.S. impacts, occasional surges of moisture could affect Florida counties south of Interstate 4. The National Weather Service has issued Flood Watches for Miami-Dade, up to West Palm Beach and around Lake Okeechobee due to several days of previous rain. An additional 1-3 inches of rainfall is possible in South Florida through Sunday.
FAQs:
Where is Arlene?
Arlene is located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, more than 200 miles west of Fort Myers, Florida.
What is the forecast for Arlene?
Arlene is not expected to strengthen over the weekend and could impact western Cuba by Sunday. The storm’s track is expected to keep it offshore with no direct impacts on the U.S. Occasional surges of moisture could affect Florida counties south of Interstate 4.
What are the impacts from Arlene?
Arlene’s track is expected to keep the storm offshore with no direct U.S. impacts. But with its proximity to Florida, occasional surges of moisture could impact counties well south of Interstate 4. Due to several days of rain in Florida before the formation of Arlene, the National Weather Service office in Miami issued Flood Watches for Miami-Dade, up to West Palm Beach and around Lake Okeechobee. Forecast warn an additional 1-3 inches of rainfall is possible in South Florida through Sunday.

In Gulf of Mexico, Tropical Storm Arlene becomes the first named storm of the 2023 hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Arlene forms in Gulf of Mexico, first named storm of 2023 Atlantic hurricane season
Tropical Storm Arlene has formed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on Friday, becoming the first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Hurricane Center measured sustained winds at 40 mph and expects this to be the peak of the system’s intensity.
Previously called Invest 91L on Wednesday and then Tropical Depression Two on Thursday, an “invest” is a designation used by the NHC to identify an area of weather being investigated for possible tropical development. A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained surface winds of 38 mph or less.
Where is Arlene located?
Arlene is located more than 200 miles west of Fort Myers, Florida. The storm is forecasted to travel southward, over the open Gulf of Mexico and is not expected to directly impact any land masses as an organized system. On its expected forecast track, the storm or its remnants will parallel the Sunshine State, staying a couple of hundred miles offshore.
What is the forecast for Arlene?

Cars navigate through flooding in Palm Harbor, Florida, as thunderstorms spawned by Tropical Storm Arlene move through the area on June 2, 2023.
Arlene is not expected to strengthen over the weekend, and what’s left of the cyclone could impact western Cuba by Sunday. The FOX Forecast Center said that despite water temperatures being sufficient to support tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico, an increase in rainfall and winds are expected to impact communities west of Havana. The combination of upper-level winds and dry air will be too significant for the cyclone to strengthen.
What are the impacts from Arlene?
Arlene’s track is expected to keep the storm offshore with no direct U.S. impact, but occasional surges of moisture could impact counties south of Interstate 4 in Florida. Due to several days of rain in Florida before the formation of Arlene, the National Weather Service in Miami has issued Flood Watches for Miami-Dade and up to West Palm Beach and around Lake Okeechobee. A further 1-3 inches of rainfall is possible in South Florida through Sunday as forecasted.