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The National Hurricane Center in its 2:00 p.m. forecast on Thursday said that a strong tropical wave located just off the African coast could become a small tropical depression early next week.
According to N.H.C., the wave, located over the far east Atlantic off the African coast is producing a broad area of showers and thunderstorms. As the system moves west-northwestward into the central Atlantic Ocean, conditions appear only marginally conducive for development due to relatively cool ocean temperatures. However, a small tropical depression could still form by early next week, N.H.C. said.
The hurricane center projected a 20 percent chance of development in the next 48 hours, and a 40 percent chance in the coming five days.
Also in the Atlantic, recent satellite-derived surface winds indicate that the small area of low pressure located about 100 miles east-southeast of Barbados has degenerated into a trough. In addition, shower and thunderstorm activity has diminished with this system. N.H.C. said unfavorable upper-level winds are expected to prevent development of this disturbance while moving toward the west-northwest at about 10 mph.
"Even though development is not expected, the disturbance could produce increased shower activity and some gusty winds while moving across the Lesser Antilles over the next couple of days," N.H.C. said.
Formation chance through 48 hours is low at near 0 percent, and the five-day forecast is just as low at 0 percent, according to N.H.C.
