The tropics have quieted down a bit compared to last week, when the massive Hurricane Erin and two invests were running rampant across the Atlantic basin.
Tropical Storm Fernand formed far out in the central Atlantic and is currently hundreds of miles east-northeast of Bermuda. It poses no danger to land. Invest 99L also managed to survive over the weekend and is headed westward through the Caribbean, but isn’t expected to develop over the next week.
The National Hurricane Center is tracking three other tropical waves throughout the Atlantic basin, but none of them currently have the same telltale signs of development as last week’s waves.
What Floridians need to know about current Atlantic conditions
There is plenty of tropical activity happening in the Atlantic in the form of tropical waves and storm remnants, but there’s little to note that could impact Florida.
A weak front has stalled inland along the northern Gulf Coast, according to the NHC’s tropical advisory. It’s producing scattered showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf. Showers and thunderstorms will probably continue through the middle of the week.
A weak area of low pressure may try to form along the front by Tuesday or Wednesday, but forecasters don’t expect significant development.
Caribbean waters are rough and choppy due to a strong pressure difference between a low-pressure system over Colombia and some high pressure in the north. One tropical wave is moving through the Windward Islands, but is weakening.
The National Hurricane Center is watching 4 tropical waves
There are four tropical waves on the NHC’s radar, which includes Invest 99L. None of the waves are expected to see any development over the next week.
Far eastern Atlantic tropical wave
Location: West coast of Africa near 18.5W from 21N southward.
Movement: West around 11 mph.
Impacts: Deep convection in the area.
Eastern Atlantic tropical wave (Invest 99L)
Location: Near 37W from 21N southward
Movement: Westward
Impacts: Producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The system has become less organized since Sunday and no further development is expected.
Atlantic tropical wave
Location: Along 61W, from 22N southward to near the border of eastern Venezuela and Guyana.
Movement: West around 17-23 mph.
Impacts: Scattered showers near the wave axis.
Northwestern Caribbean tropical wave
Location: Along 86W, from 20N southward to across portions of Honduras and into the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Movement: West around 23-29 mph
Impacts: Scattered moderate to strong convection.
Quick facts about Tropical Storm Fernand
The center of Tropical Storm Fernand was located near latitude 33.7N, longitude 58.8W. Fernand is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next day or so, followed by a turn to the northeast.
On the forecast track, Fernand should move across the open waters of the subtropical central Atlantic well east and northeast of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts.
Some strengthening is possible today. Weakening is expected to begin tonight, and Fernand is expected to become post-tropical on Wednesday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).
Location: About 360 miles east-northeast of Bermuda
Movement: North-northeast (20 degrees) at 12 mph
Wind speeds: 50 mph
Pressure: 1007 mb
Tropical Storm Fernand spaghetti models
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Invest 99L spaghetti models
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Tropical Fernand moves northeast, NHC tracks 4 tropical waves
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