A westward-moving tropical wave could develop into a tropical storm by the time it is predicted to pass about 150 miles north of the Virgin Islands on Monday.
The wave and its associated low pressure center are located around 14.7 degrees north latitude and 44.5 degrees west longitude, about 1,100 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Its forward motion is to the west-northwest at 20-25 miles per hour.
Meteorologist Alan Archer said Friday morning that the system bears watching over the next several days.
"The key to the system's developing is whether it can survive its anticipated impact with high-level winds moving in from the southeast," he said. "The high level winds are unfavorable for development."
Overnight, thunderstorms increased and became a bit better organized near the system's center. A special tropical disturbance statement from the National Hurricane Center on Friday morning suggested that the area of disturbed weather had been near tropical depression strength the past few days and could be upgraded to the eighth tropical depression of the Atlantic Hurricane Season later today if thunderstorm activity persists near the low-level circulation center.
"The system is expected to continue moving to the west-northwest for the next few days with upper-level winds becoming more favorable for development," hurricane forecaster Stacy Stewart said Friday. He urged all interests in the Leeward Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to closely monitor the progress of the disturbance over the Labor Day weekend.
Another westward-moving tropical wave approaching the Lesser Antilles is interacting with a strong upper-level trough. "Development of that system is not expected," Stewart said.
