Once again, there are no new developments in the tropical Atlantic. However a tropical disturbance was located to the southwest of the Cape Verde Islands near 35 W Longitude, but it was poorly organised and lacked deep convection. This will be an area to watch as it makes its way to the west as it is in an area with a somewhat favourable shear environment with a moist environment around it. There are also mixed forecasts as to whether or not this disturbance will develop at all, so keep your fingers crossed that it does not develop anytime soon.

In the western Caribbean, many of the global model guidance systems have changed their forecasts saying that there will be no development next week. However Rob Lightbown writes, “I think given the forecast pattern that the western Caribbean needs to be monitored for possible tropical development over the next 6 to 10 days. It’s interesting to note that the ensemble guidance members of the European and GFS models forecast lowering pressures in the western part of the Caribbean starting around Tuesday or Wednesday and continuing through next Sunday.”

Maria has been upgraded to a 80 mph Category 1 hurricane. She is tracking to the northeast at a forward speed of 45 mph. Maria hit the extreme southeast of Newfoundland at roughly 2 pm on Friday (16), drenching them with heavy rains and hurricane force winds. Some regions of Newfoundland experienced tropical storm force winds while Maria moved across the country. By Saturday (17) Maria is expected to have moved across Newfoundland and into the cooler waters of the North Atlantic.

Go to Crown Weather Services at www.crownweather.com or to the National Hurricane Centre at www.nhc.noaa.gov/ for more information. iNews wishes to thank Crown Weather for their permission to use their graphics and information. Please support them.