A strong tropical wave moving off the coast of Africa has a high likelihood of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 2-5 days according to the National Hurricane Center. The cluster of thunderstorms is about 325 miles east-southeast of the Cape Verde islands and is moving west-northwest. Computer model projections take this system into the eastern Atlantic Ocean after passing just south of the Cape Verde Islands. Some of the models strengthen it to a hurricane in the next 3-4 days. If it becomes a hurricane, it will be the first of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.
Computer model forecasts for Invest 91
From the National Hurricane CenterTROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 800 AM EDT SUN SEP 8 2013 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE GRADUALLY BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED NEAR A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED ABOUT 325 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE SOUTHERN CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS APPEAR CONDUCIVE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO WHILE THE DISTURBANCE MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 10 MPH TOWARD THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. THIS SYSTEM HAS A HIGH CHANCE...70 PERCENT... OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND A HIGH CHANCE...90 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS. INTERESTS IN THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM...AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES OR WARNINGS COULD BE REQUIRED IF A DEPRESSION FORMS. REGARDLESS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION...HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS BY LATER TODAY.
