GOES Spies System Likely to Become Cyclone in the Atlantic

The GOES East satellite captured this image of showers and thunderstorms associated with a broad area of low pressure in the Atlantic Ocean at 1745 UTC on September 26, 2016.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), this low pressure system -- known as Disturbance 1 -- has a 70 percent chance of cyclone formation in the next 48 hours and a 90 percent chance of cyclone formation over the next five days. The system is currently located about 950 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands and moving west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph. It has become slightly better organized since yesterday and environmental conditions remain conducive for development.

Regardless of development, however, heavy rains and strong gusty winds are expected to spread over the Windward Islands and portions of the southern Lesser Antilles beginning late Tuesday (9/27) or Wednesday (9/28). An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this disturbance tomorrow afternoon.

High Resolution Image

Courtesy of NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory