Tropical wave near West Indies has low odds of progressing; Claudette regains strength as a tropical storm
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Summer officially is here, and activity is ticking back up in the Atlantic.
A tropical wave emerged Monday about 1,000 miles east of the Windward Islands in the West Indies. The Windward Islands include the southern, generally larger islands of the Greater Antilles.
The wave is expected to move west to west-northwest at 20 mph. By 5 p.m. Monday, it traveled 250 miles west.
The system’s odds of development during the next couple of days spiked from a low 10% early Monday to 30% by 2 p.m. Moderate odds of development would begin at a minimum of 40%.
By Thursday, forecasters expect storm-shredding, upper-level winds will hinder its development.
Meanwhile, Claudette on Monday regained tropical storm status.
Claudette claimed 13 lives in Alabama over the weekend as it caused flash floods and spurred tornadoes that destroyed dozens of homes. A tropical storm watch was canceled Monday morning for parts of coastal North Carolina. Heavy downpours from Claudette had inundated the region Sunday.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, the storm was 280 miles south-southwest of Nantucket, Mass., and 660 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, moving east-northeast at 29 mph. Its maximum sustained winds have increased to 45 mph, with higher gusts, according to the hurricane center.
Tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 140 miles out from Claudette’s center.
Claudette is forecast to pick up speed as it heads out to sea Monday. It is expected to weaken to a post-tropical storm by Tuesday afternoon somewhere south of Nova Scotia, then dissipate late Tuesday night.
Claudette was preceded by Tropical Storm Bill in early June and Tropical Storm Ana in May.
The first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere arrived with the solstice at 11:32 p.m. EDT Sunday night, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
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