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The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday urged interests in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to monitor the path of a tropical wave that could develop into a tropical depression in the coming days.
According to N.H.C.'s 2:00 a.m. forecast, showers and thunderstorms have increased a little during the past several hours in association with the tropical wave, which is located a little less than 900 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
"Although environmental conditions are only marginally conducive, some additional development of this system is possible and a tropical depression could form during the next couple of days," N.H.C. reported. "This system is expected to moves westward to west-northwestward over the tropical Atlantic and it is expected to be near the Leeward Islands on Friday. Interests in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of this system."
The National Hurricane Center gave the tropical wave a 40 percent chance of development in the next 48 hours, and a 50 percent chance in the coming five days.
Even if the tropical wave does not develop into a powerful storm, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency Director, Daryel Jaschen, said the system will bring with it the threat of lightning strikes and the potential for flooding due to heavy rainfall.
