National Hurricane Center has its eyes on 3 storms

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center was monitoring three areas of disturbance — one gaining organization in the central Atlantic Ocean, one in the Caribbean and a third off western Africa that popped up on the 2 p.m. update on Saturday.

Meteorologists were giving the system in the central Atlantic a 40 percent chance of forming into a tropical depression or storm in the next five days — an increase from 30 percent at the morningupdate — and 10 percent in the next 48 hours.

According to the National Hurricane Center, conditions could become more favorable for development early next week as it moves through the central and western Caribbean.

It was producing disorganized thunderstorms as it moved west-northwest at 10-15 mph toward the Caribbean Sea.

The second area of interest was a trough of low pressure in the eastern Caribbean that emerged off the African coast and was moving west at 15 mph.

As of Saturday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center has given it a 20 percent chance of developing in the next five days.

Neither system posed a threat to the U.S. at this time.

If either were to develop into a tropical storm, the first to do so would be named Danielle and the second would be Earl.

This could end up being just the third August since 1961 there hasn’t been a tropical storm in the Atlantic, according to AccuWeather.

There have only been three named storms so far this season — Alex, Bonnie and Colin — with the last one, Colin, dissipating on July 3, meaning this 55-day streak is the third-longest time in Atlantic hurricane history without a named storm since 1995.

Forecasters say dry air, Saharan dust and wind shear have been among the reasons there haven’t been more storms this year.

The most active part of hurricane season is from now, midAugust, until the end of October, with Sept. 10 the statistical peak of the season.

The last Atlantic hurricane was Sam, which became a hurricane Sept. 24 and maintained that status until Oct. 5 as it cut a path between the United States and Bermuda.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its updated hurricane season predictions earlier this month. NOAA predicts 14 to 20 named storms and six to 10 hurricanes with three to five being major, meaning Category 3 or higher.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30.