MIAMI — A disturbance that’s already visible on Barbados radar is likely to strengthen into a tropical depression, and possibly a tropical storm, in the next few days.
The National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. EDT update upgraded the disturbance’s chances to a 70% chance of forming in the next two to five days, and early models suggest the storm’s path could take it over Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba and near Florida.
Forecasters said the storm was moving west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph on Monday morning, which puts it on track to reach the Lesser Antilles Monday night, Puerto Rico on Tuesday and near the Dominican Republic and Haiti by mid-week.
The hurricane center said the disturbance close to the Antilles is likely to strengthen into a tropical depression, and possibly a tropical storm, in the next two days. NHC
This path could prompt tropical storm watches and warnings on Monday with less lead time than usual, the hurricane center said.
Craig Setzer, chief meteorologist at CBS4, tweeted that hurricane models show the storm potentially moving northwest over several large islands in the Caribbean, “which means very high uncertainty on intensity [and] Fla impacts.”
Jim Cantore, a meteorologist with the weather channel, tweeted out early images of the disturbance showing up on Barbados radar Monday morning and reminded viewers that possible Florida impacts will be easier to understand later in the week.
“Atmospheric pitfalls await 94L, but could see whatever it becomes or doesn’t come close to FL late week into weekend,” he tweeted.
The hurricane center is also tracking another disturbance a few hundred miles east of the other one, but forecasters gave the second system a 20% chance of strengthening in the next five days and noted that development is becoming “less likely.”
Last week, NOAA revised its predictions for the 2021 hurricane season to include slightly more named storms — 15 to 21. Five named storms have already occurred. The next name on the list is Fred.
