August 24, 2004 – A tropical weather system southwest of the Cape Verde Islands is becoming better organized and is expected to develop into the fifth named storm this year.
The system was located Tuesday morning at 12 degrees north latitude and 30 degrees west longitude. Meteorologist George Sambataro said most of the forecast models are taking the system "westward through Wednesday and then turning it northward." After several days of the northward movement, "the system is then expected to bend back to the west but by then be too far north to affect the Lesser Antilles and the U.S. coast.
Sambataro pointed out Tuesday that it is rare for a tropical weather system that is well developed in the Eastern Atlantic to make it all the way across to the Caribbean and the U. S. coastline. "They tend to get picked up by the mid-Atlantic trough at around 40 degrees west longitude."
He said weaker systems that get further west before developing are more of a threat to the U.S. mainland.
There are no other systems of interest, however, several African waves moving into the Atlantic over the next 10 days have a potential for development.
Tuesday, a broad low to mid level trough is forecast to move across the Virgin Islands through the afternoon and into the night. This could bring showers during the afternoon and evening hours, according to National Weather Service forecaster Gladys Rubio. Tranquil marine conditions are expected to persist through Wednesday before winds and seas build slightly Thursday and Friday.
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