Disturbance will likely turn into a depression or tropical storm this week, forecast says
A disturbance that is traveling west through the Atlantic on Tuesday has an 80% to 90% chance of developing into a tropical depression or a tropical storm in the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
If it were to turn into a tropical storm, it would be named Isaias and would be the ninth named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. It is currently not a threat to Florida.
The “low pressure area” is about 750 miles east of the Windward Islands and “is gradually increasing in organization” though it still “does not yet have a well-defined center of circulation,” according to the hurricane center’s 2 a.m. update.
“Environmental conditions are expected to become somewhat more conducive for development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form during the next couple of days,” forecasters wrote.
The system is forecast to move west to west-northwest at 15 to 20 mph. Regardless of development, it could bring heavy rain and gusty winds to portions of the Leeward Islands by late Wednesday and to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by Thursday, according to the hurricane center.
It has a 80 percent chance of forming into a tropical depression or tropical storm in the next 48 hours and an 90 percent chance of forming in the next five days, according to the hurricane center.
Forecasters say tropical storm watches or warnings could be issued to portions of the islands later Tuesday and are asking those with interests in this area to continue monitoring the progress of this system.
The National Hurricane Center also issued its final advisory Monday morning for what was formerly known as Hurricane Hanna, the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season. Hanna made landfall along the coast of Texas Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane and eventually weakened into a tropical depression as it traveled inland.
As for Tropical Storm Gonzalo, it weakened into a depression and dissipated at 5 p.m. Saturday while traveling through the Caribbean Sea.
NOAA has predicted this will be an active hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms.
This story was originally published July 26, 2020 at 9:29 AM.
