Tropical system in mid-Atlantic is weakening

NHC: Latest hours.

A small area of showers and thunderstorms was associated with the tropical disturbance, which was located about 300 miles southsouthwest of Bermuda, according to the 2 p.m. public advisory.

Dry air surrounding the weak low pressure system is expected to limit significant development, forecasters said.

The system is expected to move northwest at about 10 mph and stall several hundreds

The National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor an area of low pressure east of the Caribbean, though the chances that it may develop into a tropical cyclone — a rotating storm system that could strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane — have dropped significantly.

As of Tuesday afternoon, odds of its formation stood at 20%, according to the NHC, down 40% in the last 24 miles southwest Bermuda Tuesday night.

According to the NHC, it will begin a southwestward movement Thursday.

Unrelated to the low pressure system, the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for South Florida on Tuesday. Heavy showers and severe thunderstorms are expected Tuesday.

Localized flooding is possible across urban or poor drainage areas, especially if multiple storms move over of the same locations in a short amount of time across the east coast metro areas, it said.

The strongest storms may bring wind gusts up to 45 mph, according to the weather service, and waterspouts are possible.

In July, there were five tropical storms: Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna and Isias. Other named storms this year have included Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal and Dolly. Tropical Storm Arthur formed in mid-May, making this the sixth straight year that a named storm formed before the official start of hurricane season on June 1.

In addition to Isaias, Hanna has been the only other hurricane of the season, striking Texas two weeks ago as a strong Category 1 storm.

Virtually all estimates for this hurricane season predict an above-average number of storms, due to unusually warm ocean temperatures and global climate factors that are likely to reduce the high-altitude winds that can prevent the formation of hurricanes. On July 8, Colorado State University issued a slightly more pessimistic outlook for hurricane season than its earlier forecast, upping the number of named storms from 19 to 20.