National Hurricane Center Monitoring Potential Tropical Trouble

The NaThe National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas that could develop into tropical cyclones with time; the orange are is more likely to do so than the yellow area. Image: NHCThe National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas that could develop into tropical cyclones with time; the orange are is more likely to do so than the yellowThe National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas that could develop into tropical cyclones with time; the orange are is more likely to do so than the yellow area. Image: NHCThe National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas that could develop into tropical cyclones with time; the orange are is more likely to do so than the yellow area. Image: NHCarea. Image: NHCtional Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas that could develop into tropical cyclones with time; the orange are is more likely to do so than the yellow area. Image: NHC — The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas that could develop into tropical cyclones with time; the orange area is more likely to do so than the yellow area. Image: NHC

Meteorologists at the Miami, Florida – based National Hurricane Center are monitoring two areas in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin for signs of potential tropical trouble. One is near the coast of Central America while the other is in the open water of the Atlantic. When Hurricane Helene was making landfall in Florida, some extended forecast guidance suggested Florida could be hit by another Gulf system. While that no longer appears likely, these two areas being monitored could be a future threat to Florida and the U.S. at large in the coming days and weeks ahead.

A well-defined area of low pressure located roughly midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles is producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity for now but that is forecast to change. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), this system is currently embedded in a dry air environment and development is unlikely over the next couple of days. However, this system is forecast to move generally westward toward warmer waters, and environmental conditions could become more favorable for gradual development by the middle to latter part of this week. The NHC even believes a tropical depression could form as the system begins moving west-northwestward and approaches or moves near the Leeward Islands late this week. While the NHC says there’s only a 10% chance of formation over the next 48 hours, those odds improve to 60% over the next 7 days.

Meanwhile, in the Western Caribbean Sea, the NHC is tracking a broad area of low pressure that is likely to form over the southwestern Caribbean Sea by the middle to latter portions of this week. Some development is possible thereafter if the system stays over water while it moves slowly west-northwestward towards northern Central America. Even if the system doesn’t develop into a tropical cyclone, locally heavy rainfall is possible across portions of Central America later this week which could lead to flash flood and landslide concerns. The NHC says the chances of formation here over the next 7 days are only 20%.

Elsewhere, there is no area of concern the NHC is tracking anywhere in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin nor do they expect any system to develop elsewhere this week.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs through to the end of next month.