Tropical disturbance near Florida, slow development possible

An area of low pressure located between southeastern Florida and the northwestern Bahamas continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

The National Hurricane Center says, if the current trend continues, a tropical depression is likely to form by Saturday night. Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible over the northwestern Bahamas and the southern and central Florida peninsula through the weekend. Interests in the northwestern Bahamas, the Florida peninsula, and the southeast coast of the United States should monitor the progress of this system. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system on Saturday, if necessary.

The formation chance over the next two days is 70%, and the formation chance over the next 5 days increases to 90%.

This tropical disturbance will bring slightly higher than normal rain chances across southwest Florida on Friday with more rain along the Atlantic coast. By the weekend, our typical summer-like pattern will return with scattered showers and storms primarily in the afternoons.

WINK News Weather Authority reports the disturbance will be headed northeast, away from Florida, by the time it could strengthen into a tropical depression, or even a tropical storm, by next week.

MORE DEVELOPMENTS

Satellite wind data indicate that a low-pressure area has formed in association with a tropical wave located about 1,300 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands.

Additional development of this system is possible during the next few days, and a tropical depression could form late this weekend or early next week as it moves generally westward to west-northwestward near 15 mph.

The formation chance over the next two days is 40%, and the formation chance over the next 5 days at 50%.