Season’s first tropical wave appears

With just over a week until the official start of the hurricane season, the United States National Hurricane Centre reported on Wednesday the formation of the year’s first tropical wave in the Central Atlantic Ocean.

The wave is currently located around 1 500 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, according to the Florida-based NHC which also monitors cyclones for the Caribbean region.

Forecasters have indicated that no tropical cyclone development is anticipated over the next five to seven days, although heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected over the Atlantic as the wave progresses.

Projections suggest the tropical wave will arrive in the Caribbean between Sunday and Tuesday.

A tropical wave is characterised as an elongated area of relatively low pressure that traverses the tropics from east to west.

The National Hurricane Centre is scheduled to release its official forecast for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season on Thursday at 9 am.

Notable forecasters at Colorado State University have predicted an above-average season with a total of 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. (BT)