Tropical disturbance may brew off the Atlantic coast this week

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

An area of showers and thunderstorms north of the Bahamas has a chance of developing into a weak tropical system early this week.

This image shows the area of clouds associated with the disturbance a few hundred miles east of Florida on Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Satellite / NOAA)

The feature is actually a weak storm at mid-levels of the atmosphere and is located just to the south of an area of high pressure near Bermuda.

In order for the feature to become a tropical depression, it would have to spin down to near the surface as tropical features generally dwell in the lower part of the atmosphere.

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Since the area of high pressure is just to the north, the circulation around the high may help give the showers and thunderstorms some spin, and hence may aid in development of a tropical depression.

If it strengthens enough to become a tropical storm, it would acquire the first name on the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season list, Andrea.

The position of the disturbed area, along with other features would prevent an approach to the East Coast of the United States.

However, it is possible for drenching showers and gusty thunderstorms to wander close to Bermuda as it takes shape early this week.

Cruise interests should monitor the progress of this area of disturbed weather.

Later in the month, there is a slight chance that another area of forecast disturbed weather in the western Caribbean Sea develops into a tropical system as well.

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