A big area of low pressure over the eastern Caribbean Sea has a high chance to develop into a tropical depression possibly by today or Tuesday and was designated Potential Tropical Cyclone 15 at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Conditions could produce formation of a hurricane by Wednesday with most tropical models keeping the system out of the Gulf of Mexico and on a path to Belize and Guatemala.
On Sunday, data from both NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that the circulation was becoming better defined with an area of low pressure located over the central Caribbean Sea. The aircraft also indicated the system is producing winds of 35-40 mph to the north of its center.
An additional increase in organization in the associated shower and thunderstorm activity could prompt the development of a tropical depression or storm over the next day or so. The system is forecast to move west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central and northwestern Caribbean Sea over the next several days.
Jeff George , Florida Public Radio Emergency Network's Chief Meteorologist, said a second tropical wave off the East Coast is of no immediate concern for, but pay attention because hurricane season still has a little ways to go.
CLICK HERE: More about Hurricane Hunters:
- Data’s journey from the sky back to Earth
- Why they take to the skies
- How their missions protect Florida and others around the world
The Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN), a collective of 13 public radio stations (including WGCU) that reach 99% of Florida’s population, that remain on-air during times of crisis to broadcast real-time updates from the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.
