Tropical Storm Don Becomes Less Likely

TAMPA, FL — As the National Hurricane Center continues to keep close tabs on a low pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean, the chances of it developing into a tropical depression or storm dropped a little on Wednesday. Further development, however, cannot be ruled out over the next day or two, forecasters wrote in the center’s 2 p.m. July 5 update.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the system was located about 850 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It was producing showers and thunderstorms to the west of its center.

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“This system still has the potential to become a tropical depression before it moves west-northwestward into a drier and more stable air mass during the next day or two,” forecasters wrote in Wednesday’s Tropical Weather Outlook report. The chances for development were set at 60 percent over the next 48 hours and 60 percent over the next five days. On Tuesday, the system was given about an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over a five-day period.

Should the storm develop enough to earn a name, it will be called Don. The system would be the fourth named storm of the year. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 each year.

Although it’s still way too early to tell what, if any, impact the system might have on Florida or any part of the U.S. coastline, it does remind of the need to be prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average number of named storms this year.

Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website. Folks in the Tampa Bay area can also check out this related story: Hurricane Season 2017: What Tampa Bay Area Residents Need To Know.

Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center