Atlantic may come to life with tropical development this weekAlthough the Atlantic Ocean has remained void of named tropical systems since Lorenzo's demise last week, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring several areas for tropical formation this week.
One of these areas is located between Bermuda and the Azores in the central Atlantic. The other area is located several hundred miles off the East coast of the United States.
While the first of these areas has the best chance to spawn tropical development, the second is of greater concern since it may cause rough surf, gusty winds and heavy rain along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England beaches later this week.
The area over the central Atlantic will slowly drift westward into an environment more conducive for development through midweek and could acquire tropical characteristics as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Fortunately, this system would have little time to strengthen as it is forecast to move into an area of greater wind shear by Wednesday night into Thursday. Long before the system reaches Bermuda, it is likely to merge with a non-tropical storm and be carried away into the open waters of the north-central Atlantic.
If the system were to develop into a tropical storm, it would acquire the name "Melissa."
Meanwhile, the area of disturbed weather between the East coast of the United States and Bermuda is forecast to develop into an organized storm system by midweek and drift slowly northward.
"Those along the coast, as well as in Atlantic Canada, should monitor the evolution of this system in the coming days," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
At this time, no direct landfall is expected in the mid-Atlantic, eastern New England or Atlantic Canada, but rip currents and large swells from the storm will create dangers for boaters, surfers and swimmers.
For more information, check the daily Tropical Weather Outlook, click here