June and July were quiet months in the Atlantic Basin, as they usually are, but as August draws near, so are two tropical waves that could effect the U.S. Virgin Islands as early as this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Satellite photos on the NHC web site show a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic along 28 degrees west, and the environmental conditions around and ahead of it are considered favorable for tropical development. The forecast says the wave might light up with showers and thundershowers by Friday, once it crosses 45 to 50 degrees west.
In its 2 p.m. outlook, the NHC gave the tropical wave a 20 percent chance of development through 48 hours, and a 30 percent chance of formation in the next five days.
The tropical wave was about 1,700 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands, the NHC said, and moving westward at about 30 mph, with environmental conditions somewhat conducive for development this weekend when the disturbance could be near the northern Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.
A second, strong tropical wave is now moving off the coast of Africa and has been designated Invest 96-L by the National Hurricane Center.
The wave, accompanied by a low pressure system is producing an area of showers and thunderstorms about 350 miles south-southeast of Cabo Verde as of 2 p.m. Thursday. Some development of this disturbance is possible during the next few days while it moves westward or west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
However, the center expects environmental conditions to be less conducive for development early next week, when the system is over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Chance of formation through 48 hours is 30 percent, the NHC said, and 40 percent in the next five days.
