Potential paths for weather system AL95, which the National Hurricane Center says will most likely develop into a hurricane. Photo Credit: WEATHER CHANNEL
A potentially hazardous weather system currently forming in the central tropical Atlantic is projected to strengthen into a hurricane and pass near or northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, later this week, according to the latest Tropical Weather Outlook from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, FL.
Designated as AL95, the weather system is approximately 900 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Over the last several hours, it has become increasingly organized, with intensifying showers and thunderstorms.
The NHC points out that environmental conditions are ripe for AL95's further growth. "A tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form over the next day or so," the NHC said in its report. The system is moving west-northwest at speeds between 15 to 20 mph.
High Probability of Becoming a Hurricane
The NHC indicates a high likelihood of AL95 developing into a hurricane as it approaches the western parts of the tropical Atlantic. The formation chance stands at an alarming 90 percent within the next 48 hours and nearly 100 percent over the next seven days.
For detailed information, including gale warnings, High Seas Forecasts have been issued by the National Weather Service. Both residents and mariners in the affected regions are urged to stay alert and consult these forecasts.
Residents of the northern Leeward Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands should take immediate precautionary measures. Further updates will be issued as more information becomes available.
