Tropical Depression Thirteen has formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa.
The tropical depression was called Invest 95L on Saturday and has developed into a more organized tropical system, and forecasts indicate it could eventually become a major hurricane.
The forecast calls for Tropical Depression Thirteen to strengthen and if wind speeds reach at least 39 mph, it will become a tropical storm and take the next name on the list Lee.
Currently, Tropical Depression Thirteen is located midway between western Africa and the Windward Islands.
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The forecast calls for Tropical Depression Thirteen to move to the west-northwest at 15-20 mph across the central tropical Atlantic Ocean.
The environment around the depression appears to be conducive for strengthening according to the National Hurricane Center.. The only obvious hindering factor is light-to-moderate northeasterly shear, which should keep the intensification rate in check in the short term.
However, in two to three days, this shear is forecast to relax with an upper-level ridge building near the cyclone, and the system should be moving over record-warm waters of near 30 deg C east of the Lesser Antilles (that would look more in place in the Gulf of Mexico).
These factors could support rapid intensification by the end of the week, although it too early to determine exactly when this might occur until a better-defined inner core forms.
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The NHC intensity forecast is extremely bullish for a first forecast, but remarkably lies below the intensity consensus. All indications are that the depression will become a strong hurricane by the end of the forecast period.
“The depression is forecast to become a major hurricane by this weekend and could bring impacts to the Leeward Islands by that time. While it is too soon to determine the location and magnitude of these possible impacts, interests in this area should monitor the progress of the depression and updates to the forecast,” said the NHC.
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