Atlantic's next tropical storm could be brewing near Caribbean
Should the disturbance develop, it will track west and potentially impact the northern Caribbean islands sometime next week, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Next tropical storm could be brewing in Atlantic as hurricane season nears peak
The tropics remain quiet for the last week of August, but there are signs of life as we head toward the Labor Day weekend and the first week of September.
The tropics overall remain exceptionally quiet for the last week of August, but there are some signs of life as a tropical disturbance stirs in the Atlantic.
There were actually two areas of tropical interest on Wednesday – one located a few hundred miles southeast of Bermuda. It began producing limited showers and thunderstorms Tuesday but quickly fizzled through the day Wednesday and is now no longer on the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) radar.
HAWAII IN FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND RAIN AS PESKY TROPICAL SYSTEM SCOOTS BY ALOHA STATE
So attention returns to another tropical disturbance well off the coast of western Africa that could develop early next week in the tropical Atlantic.
Should the disturbance develop, it will track west and potentially impact the northern Caribbean islands sometime next week, according to the NHC.
(FOX Weather)
"(This disturbance) has managed to duck far enough south to partially avoid the plume of Saharan dust that has been sucking the moisture out of disturbances this season," FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said. "One of the uncertainties involved continues to be whether the system can pull enough moisture from the south to fully counteract the dust plume to the north."
It is too soon to know the eventual track and impacts, but those in the northern Caribbean islands should monitor the system.
"The steering currents over the tropical Atlantic are very light, so it's going to take several days for the disturbance to reach the islands," Norcross said. "On the current schedule, that would happen Monday or Tuesday. Many of the computer forecasts show nothing more than a weak moisture surge passing over the islands, while others show a developed system. If the system can hang together until it reaches the Caribbean, the weather pattern could be conducive to organization and strengthening after that time."
The NHC has given this disturbance a medium chance of development over the next seven days.
(FOX Weather)
Beyond the tropical disturbance, the FOX Forecast Center said computer forecast models are beginning to suggest potential development associated with yet another disturbance set to roll off the African coast early next week.
Wind shear across the tropical Atlantic is expected to remain low during this first week of September, but lingering Saharan dust in the region tempers confidence in any development.
(FOX Weather)