FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Three storm systems are present in the Atlantic, one of which is likely to become a tropical storm as it moves toward the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea, forecasters said.
If a tropical storm forms from the system known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Two, it would be called Bonnie. It is expected to move over the southern Caribbean or near Venezuela’s northern coast in the next couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the system was about 330 miles east of Trinidad, moving west at a fast clip of 23 mph. Its maximum-sustained winds were at 40 mph, with tropical-storm-force winds extending out up to 60 miles.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, meaning tropical-storm conditions could hit the area in the next 36 hours. A tropical storm watch was in effect for coastal Venezuela and the island of Bonaire.
Its maximum sustained winds could reach up to 75 mph next week, according to the NHC, which would put it at hurricane strength near northern Central America. .
It is expected to bring between 4 and 6 inches to the northeastern coast of Venezuela, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago late Tuesday into Wednesday, the hurricane center said. The islands in the far eastern Caribbean from Guadeloupe to St. Lucia are expected to see 1 to 3 inches of rain while St. Vincent, the Grenadines and Barbados will get 3 to 4 inches.
The NHC is also watching a second system, this one located in the north-central Gulf of Mexico.
This low pressure system is producing rain and thunderstorms. Some slow development is possible this week as it moves west-southwest, at about 10 mph, toward the coasts of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.
It has been given it a 20% chance of developing in the next five days and a 30% chance of developing in the next two days.
Meanwhile, a tropical disturbance off Africa’s coast could develop as it moves west-northwest over Atlantic this week. As of Tuesday, it odds of developing remained low, the NHC said.
The 2022 hurricane season is expected to be an above-average one.
Tropical Storm Alex, the Atlantic’s first named storm this year, developed on June 5 and dissipated over the Atlantic Ocean about 48 hours later.
Colorado State University’s hurricane season outlook, released in early June, forecasted 20 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes.
The next named storm to form after Bonnie would be called Colin.
