Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) have been tracking an area of disturbed weather in the far Atlantic for signs of development; they now believe there is a high chance that a tropical cyclone will form here this week. A nearly stationary broad area of low pressure located about 650 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. According to the experts at the NHC, environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development and a tropical depression could form later this week. The disturbance is expected to begin moving west-northwestward in a day or so, and it should continue moving in that direction through the remainder of the week.
Computer forecast guidance that meteorologists use to aid in their forecasts suggest this storm will move closer to the US east coast over time, possibly being off the southeast US coast in about 10 days from now. It is far too early to know whether this storm will become a direct threat to the United States with a landfall or an indirect threat on the US with things like rough surf and rip currents. Residents from Florida to Maine should keep an eye on the tropics as this week wraps up for possible impacts the following week.
The NHC forecast today shows that there is a 70% chance that this system will become a tropical cyclone over the next 5 days. However, the NHC does not forecast out where systems could go beyond 5 days.
If this disturbance becomes the next tropical storm over time, it will be named Don.
