While Tropical Storm Fernand is heading north into the open waters of the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida is monitoring a disturbance that could eventually threaten the United States.

East of the Windward Islands, showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located about 200 miles east of the Windward Islands have increased since yesterday. However, the wave does not appear to have a surface circulation which would be indicative of tropical cyclone formation.

According to the National Hurricane Center, this system could still become a tropical depression during the next day or two while it moves quickly westward at about 20 to 25 mph, passing through the Windward and Leeward Islands later today and early Monday.

Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds are likely across portions of the Windward and Leeward Islands today and Monday.

The system is expected to reach the central Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, where conditions are forecast to become less favorable for additional development.

The National Hurricane Center says that an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system this afternoon, if necessary, to capture more measurements if it becomes better defined or appears to be a bigger threat than what it does now.

For now, the National Hurricane Center believes there’s a 40% chance of this disturbance evolving into a tropical cyclone in the coming days.