All Eyes On Tropical Wave Over Northern Leeward Islands
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A strong tropical wave over the northern Leeward Islands became better organized overnight.
The National Hurricane Center reports the wave's showers and thunderstorms have become more concentrated and have shown signs of organization, but the system still appears to lack a well-defined circulation.
An Air Force Reconnaissance aircraft sent to check out the wave found winds to tropical storm force in a few squalls near the northernmost Leeward Islands. Squalls to tropical storm force can be expected over the extreme northern Leeward Islands and portions of the northern U.S. and British Virgin Islands Wednesday afternoon.
The system is forecast to continue moving to west-northwestward at about 15 mph across the northern Leeward Islands, near or over Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas.
Gusty winds, heavy rains, and possible flash floods and mudslides are expected to occur over portions of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the southeastern and central Bahamas.
CBS4 Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer said it will likely form into a tropical depression (#8) on Wednesday or Thursday if there's no disruption from a close pass to Puerto Rico.
If by Thursday there are no changes to forecast track and intensity, and the system continues to organize, Setzer said a strengthening tropical storm (Hermine) will impact the Bahamas by Friday as it heads toward Florida. There are still the possibilities of turns to the south or east of South Florida but those likely wouldn't occur until Friday or Saturday, if they occur at all.
