The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor the Atlantic system, Tropical Storm Rafael

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a system in the Atlantic that has a low chance of developing into the next tropical depression or storm this season and weakening Tropical Storm Rafael.

According to the NHC tropical forecast for 7 a.m., disorganized showers and thunderstorms have decreased since yesterday near a low pressure area located less than a few hundred miles east of the central Bahamas.

“Development is becoming less likely as the system is expected to reach more adverse environmental conditions throughout the day,” forecasters said. “Regardless of developments, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible as the system moves generally westward across the Bahamas through tonight.”

The NHC gave it a 10 percent chance of development in the next two to seven days.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Rafael continues to weaken in the Gulf of Mexico and does not pose a threat to landfall for the time being.

At the time of the 4 a.m. NHC Tropical Outlook, Tropical Storm Rafael was 355 miles north-northwest of Progresso, Mexico, and moving north-northwest at 2 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are 40 miles per hour and tropical storm force winds extend up to 110 miles (180 kilometers) from the center.

Forecasters said the storm is expected to meander across the central Gulf of Mexico through tonight and then turn south and south-southwest on Monday and Tuesday.

“Weakening is expected by early next week, and Rafael is expected to decline to a post-tropical remnant low by Monday,” NHC said.

Rafael became the 17th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 1. 30. It was the 11th hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the above-average season.

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