The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring a disturbance in the southwestern Caribbean Sea that is likely to develop into a tropical depression and potentially a tropical storm within the next couple of days.
This system could bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the Caribbean and potentially impact the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.
READ: AccuWeather Warns Of Potential Hurricane Threat To US Gulf Coast
Disturbance AL97:
- Location: Southwestern Caribbean Sea
- Development: High chance (80%) of becoming a tropical depression within 48 hours, 90% chance within 7 days.
- Movement: Northward to northwestward over the central and western Caribbean Sea.
- Potential Impacts: Heavy rainfall possible for Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba. Tropical storm watches or warnings could be issued for these areas later today.
An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance later today to gather more data on its structure and intensity.
Previous Report: Caribbean Braces For Potential Tropical Cyclones As Patty Churns In The Atlantic: NHC
Other Tropical Activity:
- Subtropical Storm Patty: Patty is currently located over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean near the Azores Islands. It is not expected to impact land but could bring strong winds and rough seas to the Azores.
- Disturbance near the Greater Antilles: This system has a low chance (10%) of development and is expected to be absorbed by the larger disturbance in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. However, it could still bring heavy rain to the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, eastern Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas.
Gulf Coast Concerns:
While the exact track and intensity of the developing Caribbean system are still uncertain, there is a possibility it could move into the Gulf of Mexico later this week.
Residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast should monitor the progress of this system and be prepared for potential impacts, including heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding.
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