The National Hurricane Center is showing three areas of potential tropical development today, although none of them have more than a 20 percent chance of developing into a named storm in the next week. The one labeled as Investigation 95 (shown on the map as the X with just a tiny circle of development off the north coast of South America) was once looking more promising but now has become an open wave again and is not expected to restrengthen as it continues to move westward. Two other areas are listed as having a 10 and 20 percent chance of developing in the next week, but neither one is expected to provide any major impact on the Southeast. Keep in mind that the ocean temperatures are still quite warm and we are still a long ways from the main part of the Atlantic tropical season, so there is a long time to keep watching. Strong wind shear associated with the growing El Nino is making the Caribbean an inhospitable place for storms to grow, so that should hold off significant development for a while.
