UPDATED AT 3 p.m.
Two tropical waves in central and eastern Atlantic have become more organized today. The National Hurricane Center has given these two areas a moderate chance to develop in the next several days.
The latest models are moving the systems westward to the Central Atlantic. There is much uncertainty of how the systems could develop heading into the weekend.
An area of low pressure could form in the central or western Gulf of Mexico in the beginning of next week.
There is uncertainty surrounding all three systems as of Wednesday afternoon. Be prepared and continue to monitor updates in the following days.
The systems as described by the NHC:
1. Central Tropical Atlantic:
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms located over the central tropical Atlantic are associated with an elongated trough of low pressure centered about 750 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the next several days while moving toward the west or west-northwest at about 10 mph across the central tropical Atlantic.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...medium...50 percent.
2. Eastern Tropical Atlantic:
A tropical wave near the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is forecast to move toward the west-northwest at about 15 mph, with an area of low pressure expected to form in a day or so just to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands. Further development of the low is possible, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend before environmental conditions become unfavorable early next week.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...medium...40 percent.
3. Western Gulf of Mexico:
A broad area of low pressure could form in the central or western Gulf of Mexico by the beginning of next week. Some slow development of this system is possible thereafter as it moves westward and approaches the western Gulf of Mexico coastline by the middle of next week.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...low...20 percent.
HEAT ISSUES/Southwest Florida
A serious heat issue for Florida abated somewhat Wednesday with the area from Sarasota down to Lee County forecast to be out of the heat advisory area.
However, Portions of Collier, Glades and Hendry counties remained forecast to be under an excessive heat risk for Wednesday with heat index values in excess of 105 degrees forecast and likely to reach up to 110 degrees over northern portions of the area.
The long-range forecast for that area included heat index values in excess of 105 degrees are forecast through the remainder of the week and into the weekend.
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