Tropical Depression Two has lost its battle to become the next Atlantic tropical storm, but it will still increase shower activity across the Caribbean to end the week.

The battle between Tropical Depression Two and dry, dusty air has been won by the latter and increased wind shear.

Late Wednesday morning, the depression degenerated to a tropical wave.

“Shear is a zone of strong, generally west to east flowing winds, above the surface of the ocean that can disrupt tropical systems,” stated AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

Despite weakening, the remnants of the depression will still enhance showers across the eastern and central islands of the Caribbean.

Wednesday night, the system will pass in the vicinity of the islands of Dominica and Martinique and produce heavy and gusty showers over these and the surrounding islands through the first part of Thursday.

Localized rain amounts on the order of 2 to as much as 4 inches are expected.

Residents and visitors to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will notice an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity Thursday night through Friday. The same can be said for those across Hispaniola Friday through Friday night.

“While this will not be a widespread rain or wind event for the islands, there will be locally gusty and drenching showers and thunderstorms,” stated AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Rob Miller.

Disruptions to vacation plans and outdoor activities will occur, as well as isolated flash flooding. However, Miller points out that the increased showers will bring beneficial rain during what has become an unusually dry first half of summer.

This satellite image, courtesy of NOAA, was taken around the time once-Tropical Depression Two was classified as a tropical wave.

“With the dry air in place across the Atlantic Ocean, tropical waves have not been doing a lot [in terms of shower activity] so far this summer.”

San Juan, Puerto Rico, has picked up 42 percent of the 9.67 inches of rain that typically falls since June 1. During the same time, 1.17 inches has fallen at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. That is only 11 percent of the normal 10.74 inches.

As Tropical Depression Two weakens, the rest of the Atlantic Basin remains quiet.

The Atlantic has only yielded one hurricane so far in 2014, Arthur, which brushed part of the East Coast during early July.

The next tropical storm in the Atlantic will acquire the name “Bertha.”

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