Forecasters watching for possible tropical storm
Published: October 10, 2012
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ST. CROIX - Forecasters on Tuesday night were watching a tropical wave out in the Atlantic that the National Hurricane Center gave a low chance for developing into a tropical cyclone during the next couple of days.
"It only has a 20 percent chance right now of development," said Luis Rosa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Juan. "The latest trend in the models is to keep the system away from the Virgin Islands."
Rosa said he believes the system, which was located about 850 miles east of the Windward Islands on Tuesday night, "probably has a good chance eventually of being a tropical storm, but not a hurricane."
He said that currently, it appears that most of the impacts from any tropical cyclone that might eventually develop would likely be away from the Virgin Islands.
However, he also noted that it is too early to be certain. With the wave more than five days away, projections can change, he said.
Rosa recommended that residents keep an eye on the system, although "right now, we're not looking for any significant impact," he said.
The system is likely to bring rain, which the territory could use, he said. St. Thomas just experienced its driest September on record.
"It doesn't look like it's going to be a wind-producer. It looks like mainly a rain-producer," he said.
Any effects to the territory from the system likely would occur early next week, Rosa said.
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