Potential tropical depression forms in the central Atlantic by Kirsty McCabe
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami are closely monitoring a tropical wave (a cluster of thunderstorms), which has formed in the Atlantic Ocean over the past few days, anticipating that it could develop into a tropical depression later today.
The wave developed in the centre of the Atlantic, close to the Lesser Antilles which were recently hit by Hurricane Dean. If the wave continues to evolve it has the potential to become the sixth tropical storm of the season, and the next named storm.
At the moment, none of the computer models at the National Hurricane Centre develop the wave into a possible hurricane, but tropical storm systems are very unpredictable and the situation can easily change.
After the devastation caused by Hurricane Dean, forecasters are keeping a close eye on the wave, monitoring any changes that take place. If a storm does evolve, it looks set to track a similar path to Dean; through the Caribbean, towards St Lucia and its surrounding islands, which remain very sensitive to extreme weather conditions.
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