Tropical wave likely to develop; second wave brings more rain

Tropical Depression Seven formed on Tuesday afternoon midway between the west coast of Africa and the Lesser Antilles, one of two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean are being watched by the National Hurricane Center, with one becoming Tropical Depression Seven in the 5 p.m. advisory on Tuesday, and the other bringing heavy rain to South Florida and the Caribbean.

A cluster of storms moving west-northwest at 15 mph in the southeast Caribbean

on Tuesday has a 30% chance of developing over the next two days, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, the wave was located over the western tip of Cuba. It is responsible for disorganized showers and thunderstorms over much of Cuba, the central and northwestern Bahamas, South Florida, and the adjacent waters, according to the hurricane center.

The wave is expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by late Tuesday, across the central Gulf on Wednesday and reach the northwestern Gulf on

Thursday.

“For South Florida, this means that we will basically have a continuation of the weather pattern of the past few days, with occasional showers and thunderstorms bringing periods of heavy rainfall and gusty wind,” Robert Molleda, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Miami office said in an email Tuesday morning.

“We do not expect tropical storm conditions across South Florida, nor do we expect all day rainfall, just a continuation of the weather we’ve been experiencing,” he continued. “There may be a temporary decrease in showers and thunderstorms Thursday night and Friday, but all in all no major changes in our weather pattern through the end of the week and probably into the weekend. Rain chances will be at least 50% each day.”

The tropical depression, located midway between the west coast of Africa and the Lesser Antilles is expected to continue to move at 10 to 15 mph, traveling into the tropical Atlantic. By the weekend, conditions for its development are less favorable.

“Conditions are expected to become less conducive for storm formation/intensification as the system approaches the Caribbean Sea this weekend,” Molleda said. “Nevertheless, parts of the eastern Caribbean Sea and Windward Islands could see an increase in showers and thunderstorms with gusty wind late this week and this weekend. Beyond that, it’s difficult to determine what this system might do.”

Molleda said there is no immediate threat to South Florida, but said these storms should serve as another reminder to be prepared for the approaching height of hurricane season.

“The time of year when we’re more likely to be threatened is approaching [August, September and October],” he said. “Make sure that our hurricane plans are in place now while we have no active threats, so that we’re ready to implement them in case we get a threat later in the season.”

South Florida’s weather forecast calls for heavy thunderstorms all week, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will range from a low of about 78 degrees to highs of about 90.