First 2009 storm could form around mid-week
Sunday, August 9, 2009
On Sunday, 9 August 2009, the tropical wave was located about 12.5 north and 20.6 west or about 2000 miles east of Barbados.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 9 August 2009 - The first storm of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season could form around midweek.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami says a low pressure centre associated with a tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean is showing signs of organisation.
This means that it is developing thunderstorms and beginning to take on the characteristics of a tropical cyclone.
"This system ... could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days as it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph," says NHC hurricane specialist Robbie Berg.
"There is a medium chance - 30 to 50 percent - of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours."
On Sunday, 9 August 2009, the tropical wave was located about 12.5 north and 20.6 west or about 2000 miles east of Barbados.
Computer models are agreed that it will develop into a tropical storm and this could happen by Wednesday or Thursday.
What they radically disagree on is the track - where will it go? Long range tracking models are not reliable and forecasters will have to wait several more days until the global models can get a better fix on the system and the atmosphere around it.
If this wave does develop into a tropical storm, it will be named Ana.
From http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Caribbean/Stories/2009/08/09/NEWS0000008409.html