The second of two strong tropical disturbances crossing the Atlantic was becoming better organized Wednesday. It appears to be a matter of time before this becomes the next tropical depression and storm of the season.
The tropical Atlantic seems to be slowly awakening from its slumber.
According to Tropical Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski, "The system now over the south-central Atlantic already has a weak circulation."
The system is much more removed from dry air and dust that has plagued the tropical development zone farther to the north in the region thus far this season.
"Satellite information has revealed some very high tops on the thunderstorms within the system's circulation," Kottlowski stated.
Thunderstorms were beginning to congregate about a center in this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photo taken August 1, 2012.
High cloud tops are an indication of intense thunderstorms.
The turning of these clouds in a cyclonic nature often is a precursor to tropical development within a few days.
"There is the potential for the system to soon become the Atlantic's fifth tropical depression and could garner the name Ernesto as it moves across the Lesser Antilles and the Caribbean Sea," Kottlowski said.
If it avoids the lager, mountainous islands in the Caribbean, while at the same time stays far enough away from South America, it would be a plus for development.
According to Meteorologists Mark Mancuso, "There is a tendency for tropical systems to not develop while in the eastern Caribbean, but rather before crossing the Lesser Antilles or waiting until reaching the western Caribbean, perhaps due to the proximity to the large land mass of South America."
While the most recent and ongoing tropical wave was delivering needed rains to the northern Caribbean islands, the system lurking in the shadows has the potential to cause some problems and more disruptions to daily activities if it gets going.
People in the Caribbean, Central America and along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. should continue to monitor the track and development of this system.
The feature cruising through the northern Caribbean at this time was battling some wind shear and has yet to develop a significant surface low pressure area, despite some drenching thunderstorms.
Despite the lull in activity over the past month and increasing El Niño indicators, AccuWeather.com meteorologists are anticipating an average year in terms of the number of tropical storms and hurricanes this season.
Downpours and locally severe thunderstorms over the Central states will not only foil holiday weekend activities, but will also put some lives at risk.
A few days after a chilly storm departs the Northeast, warm weather will make a strong comeback in parts of the Midwest and the East later next week.
The Memorial Day weekend was beginning nasty with wind, rain, snow and cold in New England and part of the mid-Atlantic.
Another plunge of chilly air will set the stage for the risk of a frost and freeze centered Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and other nearby states this weekend.
This holiday weekend, a rare astronomical phenomenon will occur that will not be seen again until October 2015.
Thunderstorms continue to drench San Antonio, Texas, and are producing widespread flooding.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Iowa City, IA (1859)
Waterspout; 8 killed, one child was taken up,
carried 500 yards and thrown in a slough
but survived.
Udall, KS (1955)
This town 25 southeast of Wichita was destroyed
by a tornado; 80 people dead.
Chicago, IL (1992)
32 degrees, latest 32 or lower on record.
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