A tropical depression is expected to form in the Atlantic Ocean by the end of the week, according to the National Hurricane Center. The system, which has a 70% chance of developing, is currently located in the tropical Atlantic and is moving westward.
El Niño’s Impact
However, the development of the tropical depression may be hindered by El Niño’s hostile conditions, including strong wind shear. El Niño, a natural climate pattern, has been active in the Atlantic for several weeks, preventing the formation of tropical storms.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the system closely, and computer forecast models are predicting that it could become a tropical depression as early as Thursday. However, the exact track and intensity of the system are still uncertain.
Mid-August is typically the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, but this year’s season has been slow to start due to El Niño’s influence. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a below-average season, with a 75% chance of fewer than normal hurricanes.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
