According to the National Hurricane Center there is a broad area of low pressure located about 200 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The tropical system is producing gale-force winds over water to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Satellite images indicate that the tropical system remains disorganized, and continues to lack a well-defined center. Although upper-level winds are only marginally conducive for development, this system could still become a tropical cyclone during the next couple of days as the system moves over the central or northwestern Bahamas.
Gusty winds and heavy rains are likely to occur over portions of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the southeastern and central Bahamas during the next couple of
days, which could lead to possible flash floods and mudslides.
A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this system later this morning.
The National Hurricane Center now estimates the probability of this system becoming a tropical depression or storm within the next 48 hours at 50 percent. The odds of tropical formation within 5 days is now 80%.
The next full update from the National Hurricane Center will be issued at 11:00 AM EDT.
