Tropical Depression Could Form in Caribbean as Hurricane Season Nears End

As the 2024 hurricane season approaches its final days, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring the southwest to central Caribbean Sea for potential tropical development. A broad area of low pressure is expected to form in this region over the next few days, with a medium chance of 40% for development into a tropical depression or storm by next weekend.

The area in question is located east of Central America and south of Jamaica, a region that historically sees tropical development late in the hurricane season, particularly in November. If the system develops, it is likely to drift north or northeast over the next 5 to 7 days, but it is too early to determine any potential land impacts.

The trajectory of the potential system suggests it would move into the southwestern Atlantic, posing no immediate threat to Florida or the United States. However, the system could still produce locally heavy rain in Central America and other parts of the Caribbean, regardless of whether it develops into a tropical storm.

This year’s hurricane season has already produced 15 named storms and 10 hurricanes. The next name on the list for any new storm is “Patty.”.

Historically, the western Caribbean and central Atlantic are areas prone to late-season storm formations. While the frequency of tropical storm formations typically decreases as the season enters its final month, there is still a possibility of storms developing in November, as seen in previous years.