User:CooperScience/Tropical Storm Gordon (2018)

Tropical Storm Gordon is currently a weak tropical cyclone that is expected to intensify and threaten the Gulf Coast of the United States. The seventh named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Gordon developed from a tropical wave that was first monitored in the Caribbean Sea on August 30. The wave moved west-northwestward toward the east coast of Florida and gradually organized. The disturbance was marked as a potential tropical cyclone on September 2 while near the Bahamas, and early on September 3 it became Tropical Storm Gordon, moving onto the southwest coast of Florida later that day.

Meteorological history
On August 30, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring a tropical wave over the north-central Caribbean Sea for tropical cyclone formation. Development was expected to be slow to occur due to unfavorable upper-level winds, although the environment was expected to become more favorable when the disturbance reached the Gulf of Mexico. The tropical wave began to organize after leaving the Caribbean Sea on September 1. Due to its threat to the United States and an increasing organization trend, the NHC initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Seven late on September 2. Early on the following day, the disturbance developed a closed circulation and well-defined center, and the NHC classified the system as Tropical Storm Gordon. Shortly afterward, the center of Gordon passed over Key Largo, Florida.

Preparations and impact
Immediately upon the classification of Potential Tropical Cyclone Seven, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of the Gulf Coast of the United States, from the Alabama-Florida border westward to Morgan City, Louisiana, which was later changed to a tropical storm warning. A storm surge watch was issued for the north-central Gulf Coast at 03:00 UTC the following day from the Mississippi-Alabama border westward to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A tropical storm warning was issued for portions of south Florida at 12:30 UTC as Gordon became a tropical storm.