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Something to keep monitoring:

ST. PETERSBURG —
The ninth tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season has formed in the Atlantic Ocean.

As of 5 a.m., the system is located about 715 miles east of the Leeward Islands and is moving west at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of nearly 35 mph.
Bay News 9 meteorologist Diane Kacmarik said this is “definitely the storm to watch.”

“It is expected to strengthen and will be in the Caribbean by late Wednesday,” she said. “Most computer models are showing some turning to the north by Friday.”

Kacmarik said the storm could affect Florida if it tracks northwest. If that does happen, it would be sometime between Monday to Wednesday.\

However, Kacmarik said that if the storm stays south of Florida, our forecast will be for drier weather.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for several islands in the Caribbean Sea, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Desirade, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat and Barbuda.

Tropical storm watches have been issued for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques, Culbera, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and the British Virgin Islands.

Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.

By: Associated Press
MIAMI – U.S. forecasters are raising their estimate of potential storms in the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season, which enters its peak period this month.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its updated forecast Thursday. Forecasters say wind patterns conducive to storm formation and warmer-than-normal sea temperatures mean chances are higher for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.

NOAA forecasters say they expect a total of 12 to 17 tropical storms, with as many as five to eight hurricanes, for the season from June 1 to Nov. 30. Two to three of storms could become major hurricanes.

So far this year there have been four tropical storms and two hurricanes.

In May, forecasters had predicted nine to 15 tropical storms, with as many as four to eight storms strengthening into hurricanes.

By: Associated Press
MIAMI – Forecasters say Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the Atlantic and is speeding toward a chain of small, popular vacation islands in the Caribbean Sea.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday afternoon that the storm is headed west at about 22 mph (35 kph) toward the Caribbean. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the islands of Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Martinique, Guadeloupe and the Grenadines.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are rapidly gaining strength and were at 50 mph (80 kph).

Forecasters say the storm is expected to strengthen further. Its general track takes it toward Jamaica, though forecasters warn that the path of a tropical system can be unpredictable. Cuba and some countries in Central America also could be affected.

Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/weather/hurricane/tropical-storm-ernesto-forms-in-south-atlantic#ixzz22QV6xZ7n