Tropical waves lurk in the Atlantic as peak of hurricane season nears

As the peak of the 2021 hurricane season moves closer, two tropical waves have formed in the Atlantic and one is forecast as being likely to develop over the weekend or early next week.

The one showing greater signs of development is located about midway between the Lesser Antilles and the Cabo Verde Islands.

A September 17 weather bulletin from the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) said its showers and thunderstorms remain disorganised.

“However, environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development during the next few days, and a tropical depression is still likely to form over the weekend or early next week while moving toward the west-northwest at 15 to 20 mph across the central tropical Atlantic and then near or north of the Leeward Islands by Monday and Tuesday,” the DDM stated.

“Interests in the Leeward Islands [such as the BVI] should monitor the progress of this system during the next few days.”

As for the next weather system (also tropical wave) located farther in the Atlantic, forecasters have said it has disorganised cloudiness and thunderstorms.

“Environmental conditions are forecast to be only marginally conducive, and development, if any, of this system should be slow to occur over the next few days while the system moves toward the west-northwest or northwest at five to 10 miles per hour over the far eastern Atlantic,” the National Hurricane Center has stated.

Its chances of formation over the next 48 hours are low.