Tropical Storm Karen Heading For Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands; One To Watch Over The Next Week

Karen is not a healthy looking storm this evening. Just about all of the convection is displaced south of the center of the storm for now, and wind shear will be increasing over the next 24 hours as it moves north toward Puerto Rico. This is good news for that island and the Virgin Islands, as Karen should remain a weak storm as it moves through on Tuesday.

Once the system moves north of these islands by the middle of the week, things get interesting. A strong ridge developing to the north will likely keep the door closed, so to speak, for a track out to sea. So, it’s quite possible a westward turn happens and we end up with a storm heading toward the Bahamas and Florida about a week from now. That’s a long time when it comes to tropical forecasting, and things can and likely will change. We’re not at the point yet where this is something to be concerned about in the U.S., but it is something we’ll be watching closely this week, so be sure to check back for updates.

Tropical Storm Jerry should pass just north of Bermuda in a couple of days. This will bring some gusty winds and rain to the island, but no major impacts are expected. Lorenzo is likely to form just off the coast of Africa at really any point in the next 24 hours. It’ll be on the map for a while, but should ultimately stay out to sea.

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