A tropical depression could form in the Atlantic Ocean as early as Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The area of interest has a 70% chance of developing into a tropical depression by the end of the week.

El Niño’s Impact

However, the development of this system is being hindered by El Niño’s strong wind shear, which has been preventing storms from forming in the Atlantic. This wind shear is expected to continue, making it difficult for the system to strengthen.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas of interest, one in the eastern Atlantic and another in the northern Atlantic. The eastern Atlantic system has a higher chance of developing, but its track and intensity are still uncertain.

Computer forecast models are predicting that the system could move west across the tropical Atlantic, potentially affecting the eastern Caribbean. However, it is still too early to determine the exact track and impact of the system.

This is the first time this season that a system has had a high chance of developing in the main development region of the Atlantic, which is typically the most active area for tropical storms during this time of year.

The Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively quiet so far, with only two tropical storms, Arthur and Bertha, forming in the Gulf of Mexico. The season is expected to be below average, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting a 75% chance of a below-average season.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.