WINK Weather Authority tracking 2 Atlantic storm systems

Two Areas to Watch in the Atlantic

The Weather Authority is monitoring two areas of disturbed weather across the Atlantic. While both have some potential for development, their tracks and overall threats are very different.

Disturbance #1: Moving Away From the U.S.

A broad area of low pressure, designated AL95, is located a few hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda and continues to show signs of organization. Additional development is possible over the next couple of days, and the system could briefly become a tropical depression or tropical storm as it moves north to north-northeast, well northeast of Bermuda.

Despite the potential for some development, this system is moving away from the United States and will not be a concern for Southwest Florida.

The National Hurricane Center gives AL95 a 50% chance of development over the next 48 hours and a 50% chance over the next seven days.

Disturbance #2: Watching the Eastern Tropical Atlantic

The second disturbance is a tropical wave and associated area of low pressure that has moved off the west coast of Africa. Showers and thunderstorms remain disorganized, but conditions could become more favorable for development as it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

Forecast models have increasingly shown this system becoming more organized, with the potential to develop into a tropical depression, if not a tropical storm, by the middle to latter portions of the week.

Initially, strengthening should be limited as the system moves westward through an area of higher wind shear. However, the environment could become more favorable next week as the system turns northward around the Atlantic ridge of high pressure.

The National Hurricane Center currently gives this disturbance a 20% chance of development over the next 48 hours and a 60% chance over the next seven days.

For now, neither system poses an immediate threat to Southwest Florida. The first disturbance is moving away, while the second remains well out in the Atlantic and will require continued monitoring as it tracks westward.

WINK Weather Authority meteorologists will continue to closely monitor this system over the next 10 days and will keep you updated as the forecast becomes clearer.