Tropical wave near West Indies has low odds of building; Claudette regains strength as a tropical storm

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Summer officially is here, and activity is ticking back up in the Atlantic.

A tropical wave emerged Monday about 1,000 miles east of the Windward Islands in the West Indies.

The Windward Islands include the southern, generally larger islands of the Greater Antilles.

The wave is expected to move west to west-northwest at 20 mph. By 5 p.m. Monday, it traveled 250 miles west.

The system’s odds of development during the next couple of days spiked from a low 10% early Monday to 30% by 2 p.m. Moderate odds of development would begin at a minimum of 40%.

By Thursday, forecasters expect storm-shredding, upper-level winds will hinder its development.

Meanwhile, Claudette on Monday regained tropical storm status.

Claudette claimed 13 lives in Alabama over the weekend as it caused flash floods and spurred tornadoes that destroyed dozens of homes. A tropical storm watch was canceled Monday morning for parts of coastal North Carolina. Heavy downpours from Claudette had inundated the region Sunday.