BY MIRABEL ODETA
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three weather disturbances across the Atlantic, including one system with a 60% chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next seven days.
The disturbances are spread across the central and eastern tropical Atlantic and the western subtropical Atlantic. Forecasters are watching each system as they move across the ocean and encounter changing environmental conditions.
In the central tropical Atlantic, an area of thunderstorms and showers associated with a tropical wave was located roughly midway between the coast of West Africa and the Lesser Antilles.
Forecasters said the system could gradually become better organized through the middle of the week as it moves quickly westward across the central tropical Atlantic.
However, conditions are expected to become less favorable later in the week as the wave approaches the Lesser Antilles. Stronger winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere could make it more difficult for the disturbance to develop.
The system has a 10% chance of developing over the next 48 hours and a 10% chance of formation during the next seven days.
A second disturbance in the eastern and central tropical Atlantic is receiving greater attention from forecasters.
The system, located a few hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands, consists of a small area of low pressure producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.
The low is expected to move slowly westward. Forecasters said a tropical wave currently moving across West Africa is expected to merge with the low in the coming days.
Environmental conditions are forecast to become more favorable for development by the middle of the week. If the system continues to organize, a tropical depression could form toward the end of the week as it moves westward to west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic.
The system currently has a 20% chance of development during the next 48 hours, but that probability rises to 60% over the next seven days.
The third disturbance is located in the western subtropical Atlantic, a few hundred miles northwest of Bermuda.
The area of low pressure is producing showers and thunderstorms that remain disorganized. Forecasters said some development is possible during the next few days as the system moves quickly eastward, well north of Bermuda and across the western and central subtropical Atlantic.
However, the system is expected to encounter cooler ocean water later in the week, which should limit its ability to strengthen. Forecasters expect its chances of development to decrease after Wednesday.
The disturbance has a 10% chance of formation during the next 48 hours and a 10% chance during the next seven days.
None of the three disturbances is currently an immediate threat to the United States, but forecasters will continue monitoring their movement and organization as conditions change.
Residents across the Atlantic and Caribbean should continue to monitor official forecasts, particularly during an active hurricane season when weather systems can strengthen or weaken rapidly.
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