On Aug. 18 at 12:05 p.m. EDT (16:05 UTC) NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible light image of Tropical Storm Fiona in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It has been given a 50 percent chance of developing more over the next five days.
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After that, environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form early next week as the system moves west at 15 miles per hour.
Fiona remains small, with tropical force winds extending 35 miles from the storm’s center.
NHC forecaster Blake said that “Little significant change is expected with Fiona’s intensity today due to gradually increasing shear”.
On Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) Tropical Storm Lionrock, formerly Tropical Storm 12W had maximum sustained winds near 46 miles per hour (40 knots/74 kph).
Fiona is still not forecast to pose a threat to land.
At that time it was about 1,295 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands and moving towards the west northwest at 10 miles per hour.
The second disturbance under watch is a tropical wave that’s expected to blow off the coast of Africa on Saturday. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects that the storm will slowly intensify to about 55 knots by August 24.
Hurricane forecasters give that wave a near zero percent chance of formation during the next 48 hours and a low chance of formation through the middle of next week. The season runs through November 30.
To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.
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