COULD TROPICAL STORM BONNIE FORM LATER TODAY

Written by: Brian Neudorff

All eyes are on the possible development of a tropical system located in the Caribbean over southeastern Bahamas. In fact the National Hurricane Center is giving this area of develop a 100% chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm by 11 am EDT.

VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGES AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE BAHAMAS INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED AND A CLOSED CIRCULATION HAS FORMED. ADVISORIES ON A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OR A TROPICAL STORM WILL BE INITIATED AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC TODAY. THIS ADVISORY WILL LIKELY INCLUDE TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PORTIONS OF THE BAHAMAS AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA.

Another reason why many are watching this storm is where the current computer models are tracking this system. Many of the models track this system through the Florida Straits, the waterway in between Florida and Cuba, on Friday and then into the eastern Gulf by the weekend. Depending on how strong this storm gets could have some major impacts on the areas around and over the oil spill.

If this storm does develop it will be named Bonnie, it would be the second named tropical system for the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. From some of the forecast I have read, although this system is showing signs of organization and strengthening it appears it would still have to battle some moderate wind shear through the Florida Straits. This could keep the storm from becoming any strong but only time will tell.