Forecasters Eye Potential Tropical Disturbances

(Miami, FL) -- Forecasters are keeping watch on two disturbances for possible development in the Atlantic. In the western Atlantic, an area of low pressure is producing showers and thunderstorms a few hundred miles southeast of Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center in Miami is giving the disturbance a 10% chance of development in the next seven days.

Meanwhile, forecasters are still monitoring a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic. It's being given a 20% chance of developing in the next week.

Florida is predicted to be free from tropical disturbances over the Labor Day weekend, but many areas are likely to experience local showers and severe thunderstorms.

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. Western Atlantic:

An area of low pressure located a few hundred miles southeast of

Bermuda is producing a small area of disorganized shower and

thunderstorm activity. Dry air and strong upper-level winds are

expected to limit additional development of this system during the

next day or so while the low moves northward to north-northeastward

at around 10 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...low...10 percent.

2. Central Tropical Atlantic:

An area of low pressure could form in the central portion of the

Tropical Atlantic in a few days. Thereafter, environmental

conditions appear generally favorable for some slow development of

the system this weekend into early next week while it moves westward

to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...low...20 percent.