After several days of journey across the Atlantic, a new area of low pressure has found enough strength to intensify to a tropical depression, which makes for the fifth tropical cyclone of the 2019 hurricane season.
Tropical Depression Five (TD5) is expected to travel northwest into the central or northern Lesser Antilles around Tuesday of this upcoming week, where it will likely reach tropical storm strength. It will likely arrive in the northeastern Caribbean Sea around the middle of the week where it will likely intensify to category 1 hurricane strength. Shear is expected to decrease and eventually will pose little issue to this cyclone, but it’s eventual demise may it’s path of travel over land following it’s arrival in the Caribbean. However, it’s uncertain just how much interaction this cyclone will have with land, which will determine how much intensity it retains. This is why Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic may want to keep a close eye on the evolution of TD5 in the upcoming days.
TD5 poses no threat to the Carolinas or Southeast Coast at this time, but we will be monitoring the situation closely in the days ahead. Regardless of the evolution of TD5, this is yet another sign that the Atlantic basin is waking up. Our hurricane season is far from over, which is why you’ll want to stay tuned to Carolina Weather Authority in the days to come as we track individual waves and cyclonic development across the Atlantic and their overall threat to the Carolinas. You can follow our updates here on the site, as well as Facebook and Twitter. Also make sure to check out our upgraded model page, where you can find the latest tropical outlooks, links to forecast models, and more!
-Jesse
Carolina Weather Authority
