Cristobal spins in Atlantic, another storm may follow soon
Cristobal continues to spin in the open Atlantic and poses no threat to land. However, a budding storm much farther south could bring impacts to the Caribbean starting this weekend.
If you have ever suffered through a heat wave or waited anxiously on the path of a hurricane, you have one high pressure system to blame, the Bermuda High.
There had been no tropical storms in the Atlantic basin since Bertha dissipated in mid-July, but that has changed as a gale center acquired tropical characteristics and became Tropical Storm Cristobal, 1,000 miles northeast of Bermuda. Farther south, a budding tropical wave east of the Caribbean is next in line to become a tropical storm.
Cristobal losing wind intensity
A non-tropical storm producing gusty winds and squalls northeast of Bermuda was dubbed Cristobal after becoming better organized Wednesday morning. Cristobal has since lost wind intensity and become a tropical depression, producing maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Impacts to Bermuda or the United States are not anticipated. However, there may be some indirect impacts in part of Europe.
"There is a remote chance the depression could merge with a front or another storm and bring some rain to part of Ireland and the United Kingdom early next week," AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said. "We will continue to monitor its progress. However, it could become disorganized quickly and become difficult to track as an entity."
Excessive heat and drought have been widespread in Europe this summer. Much of western Europe has experienced its hottest June and July on record. Any rain in lieu of severe thunderstorms and cooler air would be more than welcome.
Potent Cabo Verde tropical wave may soon join Cristobal
"The tropical wave east of the Caribbean is currently in a zone that is generally favorable for development this week," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "The tropical wave has a high chance of development."
Following Cristobal, the next name on the list for tropical storms in the Atlantic basin in 2026 is Dolly.
"The most likely time for development of this tropical wave is from Thursday to Friday," DaSilva said.
A large weather feature over the central Atlantic, known as the Bermuda-Azores High, is expected to guide the wave along on a west-northwest path over the next several days. This high-pressure area could stay strong and elongated to the west, or it could falter and open the window for tropical systems to move northward.
If the wave fails to develop or peaks as a depression or minimal tropical storm, it would continue through the Leeward and northern Windward Islands with an uptick in downpours and gusty thunderstorms with choppy seas later this weekend.
If the tropical wave quickly organizes into a strong tropical storm and then a hurricane, it is more likely to turn north of the Leeward Islands. If strengthening is delayed, the system could track near or over the Leeward Islands.
Should the wave stay poorly organized but survive the wind shear in the Caribbean, it could approach the coast of Central America early next week with a surge of showers and gusty thunderstorms.
As it approaches the Caribbean late this weekend into early next week, disruptive winds, known as wind shear, should limit strengthening. "The wind shear could also cause the system to dissipate near the Leeward and Windward Islands," DaSilva said.
The storm would have to thread the needle to reach the Southeast coast of the United States sometime late next week and seems to be only a remote possibility at this point.
The storm would have to stay organized and strong enough to survive extensive wind shear over the Caribbean. But if it gets too strong before reaching U.S mainland waters, it will turn north and track well east of the East Coast.
Interests in the Leeward Islands and the north-central Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, should follow AccuWeather's forecasts as the tropical wave moves along.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, a separate tropical wave ahead of the area of interest has dissipated.
However, a trailing tropical wave just pushing off the coast of Africa at midweek has about a 50% chance of evolving into a tropical depression late this week into this weekend.
This wide view image of the tropical Atlantic was captured on Thursday morning, Aug. 13, 2026. The tropical wave of interest appears near the center of the image. A second tropical wave can be seen to the right. The Leeward and Windward islands of the Caribbean appear on the far left. Africa appears on the far right. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
The wave near Africa would continue to push westward during the next week or so.
Cabo Verde season ramps up in Atlantic
The zone north of the equator being closely monitored lies in the middle of what is known as the Main Development Region (MDR) of the Atlantic. This area is frequented by tropical waves that move across Africa then westward over the Atlantic. Tropical waves, depressions, storms and hurricanes that pass through or develop in this zone are referred to as Cabo Verde systems, named for a group of islands just off the northwest coast of Africa.
Cabo Verde tropical waves make up the bulk of named storms and hurricanes from August to October or at least play a part in the development of many storms outside of the MDR.
Tropical waves typically move across the Atlantic every two to five days during the heart of the hurricane season from August into early October, with fewer waves later in the autumn. About 60 tropical waves occur during an average season, and 10-15% develop into tropical systems. The percentage varies from year to year and is typically higher near the September peak of the hurricane season.
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