000 ABNT20 KNHC 191934 TWOAT Special Tropical Weather Outlook NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 335 PM EDT Sat Aug 19 2023 For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico: Special outlook issued to update the discussion of the disturbance in the Central Tropical Atlantic (AL99). Eastern Tropical Atlantic (AL98): Shower and thunderstorm activity continues in association with a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear generally favorable for further development of this system, and a short-lived tropical depression is likely to form this weekend while it moves west-northwestward or northwestward at about 10 mph across the eastern tropical Atlantic. By early next week, upper-level winds over the system are forecast to increase, and further development is not expected. * Formation chance through 48 hours...high...70 percent. * Formation chance through 7 days...high...70 percent. Central Tropical Atlantic (AL99): Updated: Showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure located roughly halfway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles have persisted and become better organized this afternoon. If these development trends continue, a short-lived tropical depression is likely to form this afternoon or evening, while the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph across the tropical Atlantic. Upper-level winds are expected to become increasingly unfavorable by late this weekend, with any further development not anticipated. * Formation chance through 48 hours...high...70 percent. * Formation chance through 7 days...high...70 percent. Near the Windward Islands (AL90): A broad area of low pressure has formed near the Windward Islands, shower and thunderstorm activity has become better organized since yesterday. Some additional development of this system is likely and a tropical depression could form by early next week while this system moves westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph, across the Lesser Antilles and over the eastern and central Caribbean Sea. Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Windward Islands during the next couple of days. Interests in the eastern and central Caribbean should monitor the progress of this system. * Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...40 percent. * Formation chance through 7 days...medium...60 percent. Western Gulf of Mexico: An area of disturbed weather located near the northwestern and central Bahamas is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico by early next week, where a broad area of low pressure is expected to form. Some slow development of this system is possible thereafter, and a tropical depression could form as it moves westward and approaches the western Gulf of Mexico coastline by the middle of next week. * Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent. * Formation chance through 7 days...medium...50 percent. Near the coast of Africa: A tropical wave located near the western coast of Africa is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some slow development is possible while it moves generally west-northwestward across the tropical eastern Atlantic during the next several days. * Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent. * Formation chance through 7 days...low...20 percent. $$ Forecaster Kelly/Brown