Watching Wave In Eastern Atlantic And Disturbance In Gulf

We are approaching the statistical peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, and on cue, things have been quite busy for the past three weeks.  To date, we have had 13 tropical depressions, 12 named storms, 2 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes.  There could be more on the way too.  In addition to Hurricane Katia, we have two other disturbances to watch in the Atlantic.

The first definite concern is in the Eastern Atlantic.  Located some 600 miles to the Southwest of the Southernmost Cape Verde Islands, the tropical wave is moving to the west at 15 miles per hour.  The wave got better organized during the day today, but nothing more in the past several hours.  Nevertheless, the wave has been given a 60 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, there is more trouble stirring in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night.  An area of disturbed weather has formed on the heels of a frontal boundary, and has persisted.  The models have begun to pick up on this feature, and we could have another tropical depression or storm forming.  Sea surface temperatures are more than adequate in the Gulf, but the dry air from Texas could play a role in how strong this disturbance gets.