2 Tropical Waves in the Atlantic, Heading Towards Caribbean, Development Chance Rise to 50%

Fresh tropical activity in the Atlantic is being monitored as Jamaica continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which affected the island last year.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Sunday that two tropical waves are being watched, although neither system currently poses an immediate threat to Jamaica.

One of the disturbances is expected to emerge from the west coast of Africa early this week and has a 50 per cent chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next seven days. Forecasters said conditions could support gradual organisation as the system moves westward to west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic.

Another tropical wave, located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, has a 20 per cent chance of development over the next seven days. Some development is possible during the early or middle part of the week before environmental conditions become less favourable near the Lesser Antilles.

The developments come less than a year after Hurricane Melissa caused widespread damage across Jamaica. The storm left 45 people dead, while many residents lost their homes or suffered major damage to their properties, particularly in western sections of the island.

For many Jamaicans, the possibility of another major weather system remains a concern, with some communities still dealing with the effects of last year’s hurricane.

August is also the start of the more active portion of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The NHC is continuing to monitor both systems as they move across the Atlantic.