On Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center continued to observe two systems in the Atlantic, including one that may transform into a tropical depression this week.

This potential depression was identified by the NHC as a “broad area of low pressure” situated in the central tropical Atlantic, which is generating “disorganized showers and thunderstorms.”

Known as AL94, this disturbance is expected to move westward to west-northwestward, and the conditions in the surrounding environment may allow for gradual development later in the week, according to the NHC advisory on Wednesday morning.

“A tropical depression could form as this system approaches the Leeward and Virgin Islands later this week,” forecasters from the hurricane center noted.

Experts indicated that this system is not likely to pose a threat to the U.S., as larger weather patterns are expected to steer it away. “A trajectory towards Florida seems blocked, but this could evolve as other weather features shift,” stated AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

According to WPLG-TV meteorologist Michael Lowry, even if it develops into a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Nadine in the upcoming days, “models suggest it could either veer southward and weaken as it passes through the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola or get disrupted and move out to sea away from the U.S.”

Tracking Atlantic Storms

AL94 Might Develop into a Tropical Depression or Storm

“It seems that any significant development over the next few days will progress slowly,” noted AccuWeather hurricane expert Alex DaSilva in an interview with YSL News on Tuesday.

The system could evolve into a tropical storm as wind shear decreases later in the week, possibly by Thursday or Friday. AccuWeather predicts that the system may reach tropical storm status by Thursday night, early on Friday, or as soon as Thursday afternoon.

“There’s a chance for the system to intensify quickly into a tropical depression or storm as it approaches or passes near the Leewards later this week,” DaSilva commented, “However, as it moves further west, it may encounter less favorable conditions for strengthening and organization.”

The next storm to form will be named Nadine, marking it as the 14th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which aligns with the average number of named storms in such a season.

Another System in the Caribbean Sea

The hurricane center also reported on a “broad area of low pressure” that could form over the southwestern Caribbean Sea in the middle to later parts of this week.

Forecasters noted that some “slow development” is possible if the system remains over water while moving gently northwestward toward Central America. Regardless of whether it develops, heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Central America later this week.

As of Wednesday morning, this system is not projected to affect the U.S.