ORLANDO, Fla. _ A tropical wave moving west in the Atlantic has a very high chance of becoming a tropical depression within the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. update.
The low pressure system is currently located a little more than 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and has not improved its organization much in the last 24 hours, but meteorologists think that conditions for development could improve over the course of Tuesday as the system travels west, the NHC said.
The disturbance has a 90% chance of tropical development in the next two to five days.
Computer models project the storm to most likely steer clear of the eastern Caribbean islands, although some have it coming within striking distance of the Virgin Islands and even Puerto Rico before turning to the north. Florida is not in any of the models' paths.
Most models do take the system close to Bermuda, which will most likely feel the effects of Hurricane Humberto in the next few days.
A tropical depression forms when a low pressure area is accompanied by thunderstorms and produces winds below 39 mph. If and when the system gains more structure and maximum sustaining winds over 39 mph it will become a tropical storm and don the name "Imelda."
A second system in the Gulf of Mexico has lost steam and structure, but development is still possible as the system heads toward the northwestern Gulf coast, according to the NHC.
It has a 30% chance of developing within the next two to five days.
"Regardless of development, this system is expected to produce locally heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding along portions of the central and upper Texas coastal areas later this week," the NHC said.
