A tropical wave that’s been on the radar of meteorologists for the past week has an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Monday morning.
“Earlier satellite wind data indicate that the system is producing winds of 40 to 45 mph, and recent satellite and ship observations suggest that a circulation is gradually becoming better defined,” read a statement by the NHC. “If this development trend continues, a tropical storm is likely to form later today or tonight as the system moves westward over the west-central Caribbean sea at 20 to 25 mph.”
Tropical activity shows that it is currently 350 miles east-southeast of Jamaica, and by the evening of Aug. 1, the Caribbean Island will see gusts of winds and heavy downpours of rain. The southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti can expect to experience the same weather conditions. Overnight, the Cayman Islands will experience the same, the NHC says.
Currently there are no coastal warnings in effect for the United States.
If a storm forms, it will take the next name available on the National Hurricane Center’s list. Given that this will be the fifth storm of the season, its name would be Earl. The four prior names used this storm season were Alex, Bonnie, Colin, and Danielle.
