The bubble finally burst on the spate of National Hurricane Center investigations popping up in the Atlantic with the formation of a tropical storm and a tropical depression, while three more systems continue to be tracked.
Tropical Storm Emily, which formed Sunday morning, is a broad area of low pressure with showers and thunderstorms located 1,000 miles west-northeast of the Cabo Verde Islands showing more signs of circulation as it moves west-northwest at 10 mph.
As of 11 a.m., it had sustained maximum winds of 50 mph with tropical-storm-force winds extending out 185 miles.
“Little change in strength forecast today followed by gradual weakening. Emily is likely to become a post-tropical remnant low by Tuesday,” forecasters said.
Sun Aug 20 1700 UTC: Here are your Marine Key Messages, including forecast Wave Heights associated with Tropical Storm #Emily. Refer to https://t.co/QJ4DpXwUyU for the latest on #Emily and https://t.co/26J6Uoh0VW for the latest marine forecast. pic.twitter.com/10va2TRbf7
— NHC_TAFB (@NHC_TAFB) August 20, 2023
Tropical Depression Six formed Saturday evening and continues what’s predicted to be a short-lived run also because of wind shear. Early Sunday, its center was located about 680 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands moving west at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
“Some gradual weakening is expected, and the depression is forecast to become a remnant low early Monday and dissipate soon thereafter,” forecasters said.
As of the 2 p.m. update, the remainder of the Atlantic is packed with weather systems that have a chance to become the next tropical depression or storm. If any gain enough strength to become a named system, they would become Tropical Storms Franklin, Gert and Harold.
A low-pressure system that moved into the Caribbean Sea since Saturday continues to produce showers and thunderstorms with some signs of organization.
“In addition, visible satellite imagery shows evidence that a well-defined center is developing, and earlier satellite wind data indicated the system was producing winds of 35-40 mph,” forecasters said. “If these trends continue, a tropical depression or storm could form as soon as later this afternoon.”
The system is forecast to move westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the eastern and central Caribbean, before turning northward and potentially affecting the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Tuesday or Wednesday. Forecasters expect heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Lesser Antilles during the
next couple of days.
The NHC gives it a 90% chance to form in the next two days, and 90% within the next seven.
A system that dropped some rain over South Florida overnight and now the Straits of Florida is expected to continue into the Gulf of Mexico later today and become a broad area of low pressure.
“Additional development of this system is possible as it moves westward at about 15 to 20 mph, and a tropical depression could form as it approaches the western Gulf of Mexico coastline by Tuesday.” forecasters said.
The NHC gives it a 50% chance to form in the next two days, and 60% within the next seven.
The newest tracked system emerged from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa late Friday now producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.
“Environmental conditions appear conducive for the gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form later this week while it moves west-northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic,” Forecasters said.
The NHC gives it a 20% chance to form in the next two days, and 60% within the next seven.