Two weather disturbances in the Atlantic cause concerns

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring two weather disturbances with a high chance of formation in the Northwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic.

According to the NHC’s 8 am update, showers and thunderstorms associated with the disturbance AL97 are gradually becoming better organized in the broad area of low pressure located over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Environmental conditions seem favorable for further development of this system. It is likely that a tropical depression or storm will form within the next day or two as the system moves northward across the northwestern Caribbean Sea and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, where additional development is expected.

Regardless of development, heavy rains are expected over portions of Central America during the next several days. The NHC has advised interests in the northwestern Caribbean, the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and western Cuba to closely monitor the progress of this system, as watches or warnings will likely be required later this morning for portions of these areas.