The tropics are coming to life, with a new tropical storm possible in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin over the coming days. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking 2 disturbances that could become a tropical cyclone over time, although one over the far Atlantic is the more likely of the two to become something of concern.
A tropical wave located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. According to the NHC, environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive, and development of this system is anticipated. A tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form this weekend several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands while the system moves westward at 15 to 20 mph. “Interests in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of this system,” warns the NHC. At this time, the NHC believes there’s an 80% chance that a storm will form here over the next 7 days; there’s a 60% chance that it may even form within the next 2 days.
The next tropical storm to form in the Atlantic will be named Beryl.
The second area being watched is over the western Caribbean and the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico. According to the NHC, a broad area of low pressure over the western Caribbean Sea is producing widespread but disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity while it moves west-northwestward at around 15 mph. Some development of this system is possible over the northwestern Caribbean Sea or over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico during the next few days. The NHC says there’s only a 30% chance that this area will develop over the next 7 days.
