Dale C. S. Destin | 268Weather
Looks like the Caribbean is set for another busy week. There is the potential for two tropical cyclones – tropical depressions, tropical storms or hurricanes, impacting the area.
It is the start of a new week but the continuation of a record-breaking hurricane season, which could add two more storms to its tally, in days. There are two new disturbances between Africa and the Caribbean, taking aim at the islands.
It is uncertain as to whether these disturbances will become tropical cyclones, where they will go and what hazards, they will bring to the area. However, at this time of the year, most disturbances do develop into tropical cyclones, as conditions are generally conducive, like they are currently, bar the dry and dusty Saharan air.
Today, we saw the end of Tropical Storm Josephine, which threatened the area but eventually passed a safe distance north of all the islands.
With Josephine gone, all attention is now on Disturbances AL96 and AL97. They both have a 50 percent chance of formation. And they both have tracks that take them through the Caribbean.
The second of the two systems, AL96, appears to be more of a future threat to the Caribbean, particularly the Leeward Islands. AL97 is perhaps moving too rapidly for much development to take place before reaching the Eastern Caribbean tomorrow; however, it is forecast to slow down in the Caribbean Sea where it will encounter favourable conditions for formation Wednesday.
The gold standard of models – the ECMWF IFS or European model is very sweet on AL96. It gives it a relatively high chance of becoming a tropical storm and track towards our “neck of the woods” – the Leeward Islands this upcoming weekend. This week could end similarly to the one just gone – with us under a Tropical Cyclone Alert or worse.
Already for the season, there have been 11 named storms, the most to have ever occurred this early in the year, with the more active half of the hurricane season just getting started. With half of the season to go, only 48 out a total of 169 seasons, dating back to 1851, has seen more storms.
Be prepared! Based on the forecast, the season is likely to produce, at least, nine more named storms, five more hurricanes and three major hurricanes. It is likely to be a very long season.
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