The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Depression 7 formed in the western Atlantic today. It could be Tropical Storm Fiona before the end of the day, but the hurricane center is not projecting it to become a hurricane, at least through the next five days.
"They're keeping the winds pretty low, at only about between 35 and 45 miles per hour" said WWL-TV meteorologist Alexandra Cranford.
Tropical Depression Seven has formed in the Atlantic. The NHC is forecasting it to become Tropical Storm Fiona as it heads west to the northern Caribbean. Could stay a low-end tropical storm or transition back to a low pressure area this weekend. Lots of time to watch it #beon4 pic.twitter.com/tJEJHipL7V
— Alexandra Cranford WWL-TV (@alexandracranfo) September 14, 2022
Dry air and wind shear will inhibit its development, and the Leeward Islands could also interfere.
"This would be by this weekend, maybe Sunday to Monday, that it reaches this area around Haiti and the Dominican Republic," Alexandra said.
About half the forecast models predict the system to curve north into the Atlantic and then out to sea. Others have the storm passing over the Greater Antilles, and a few more show it steering more west, into the Caribbean south of Jamaica. None at this time forecast it to get into the Gulf Of Mexico to any significant degree.
