NHC's 7-day graphical tropical weather outlook as of Friday, August 30 at 1:00 a.m. Photo Credit: NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
As the calendar inches closer to September, activity in the tropical Atlantic is ramping up, with meteorologists keeping a close eye on two developing systems that could potentially impact the Caribbean and surrounding regions.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami issued a tropical weather outlook at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, detailing the current status of these systems and their potential to develop into more significant weather events.
The first system being monitored is a tropical wave located over the central Tropical Atlantic. This wave continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms, which have recently become more concentrated near the system's axis. According to the NHC, environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development, and there is a possibility that this system could develop into a tropical depression by early next week.
The system is currently moving westward at a speed of 10 to 15 mph and is expected to approach the Lesser Antilles, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, in the coming days. Should development continue, the system is forecast to move westward to west-northwestward, potentially impacting portions of the eastern and central Caribbean Sea by the middle of next week.
The NHC has assessed the formation chance of this system within the next 48 hours as low, at 10 percent. However, over the next seven days, the likelihood of formation increases to a medium chance of 50 percent.
In addition to the central Atlantic system, another tropical wave located just west of the coast of Africa is also under observation. This wave is currently associated with an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. While development is slow, the NHC notes that there is some potential for gradual development of this system as it moves slowly to the west-northwest or northwest over the Eastern Tropical Atlantic.
The chances of this system developing into a more organized weather event remain low, with a near 0 percent chance of formation within the next 48 hours. However, the NHC has noted a slight increase in the formation chance over the next seven days, estimating it at 20 percent.
Residents in the Caribbean and surrounding areas are advised to stay informed and monitor updates as these systems progress. While both systems currently have a low to medium chance of development, the potential for these tropical waves to intensify serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness during the peak of hurricane season. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
