MIAMI — Forecasters say a disturbance in the Caribbean has a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days.
As of 7 a.m. today, the disturbance — a trough of low pressure — extended from the northwestern Caribbean Sea near the Yucatan peninsula into the southwest Caribbean Sea. It’s expected to drift west over the next couple of days.
Environmental conditions are unfavorable for significant development, forecasters said, but it is expected to bring heavy rainfall to portions of Cuba, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan peninsula through the middle of the week.
The shaded area on the graphic shows where a storm can develop, but it is not a track. The National Hurricane Center releases a track when a tropical depression forms or is about to form.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Epsilon is expected to become a hurricane this week in the Atlantic, forecasters said this morning.
The system is not expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico or pose a threat to Louisiana.
Forecasters also are tracking a disturbance in the Caribbean that has a 10 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression within five days.
Here’s what we know about the tropics as of this morning.
Tropical Storm Epsilon in the Atlantic
Tropical Storm Epsilon is drifting northeast in the Atlantic, forecasters said.
As of 4 a.m., the storm was about 765 miles southeast of Bermuda and was moving northeast at three mph.
It has winds near 45 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday night or Thursday morning, forecasters said.
On the forecast track, Epsilon should approach Bermuda on Thursday.
What else to know?
No other cyclones are expected to form in the next five days in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Systems are named once they strengthen into a tropical storm. The next available name is Zeta. Forecasters moved to the Greek alphabet in September after using all the available names for the 2020 Atlantic season.
The Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30, but storms can form any time.