Monday, July 24, 2006

Calm in the Atlantic, For Now

There is only one area of concern in the Atlantic basin. Thunderstorms are clustered in the Bay of Campeche in the wake of a tropical wave that has moved into Mexico. Currently, upper-level westerly winds are strong, shearing the thunderstorms apart and preventing further development. However, should the thunderstorms persist for another 24 hours, the upper-level winds should eventually relax and become more favorable for development as a ridge builds over the region. Whether or not development occurs, some of this moisture will be pulled northward into southern Texas tonight and Tuesday, resulting in heavy thunderstorms in those areas.
Another tropical wave is moving through the eastern Caribbean and is located along 79 west south of 20 north, moving west-northwest at 15 knots. There is very little thunderstorm activity along this wave.

Another couple of waves are progressing westward through the Atlantic. One wave is located along 67 west south of 18 north, moving west at 15 knots. There is little thunderstorm activity along this wave as well because of very dry air aloft over the region. The other wave has moved east of the Cape Verde Islands and is along 43 west south of 20 north. This wave has a well-defined low pressure area in association with it, but Saharan dust has become entrained with the system, choking off the thunderstorms that were along the wave earlier. So, development cannot occur along this wave anytime soon.