The United States' National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a statement on Saturday highlighting an increased likelihood of a tropical storm forming south of Cuba. In their 8:00 am Eastern Time advisory, the NHC reported disorganized showers and thunderstorms in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, linked to a broad low-pressure area.
"A gradual development of this system is anticipated, with a tropical depression likely to form in the coming days as it generally moves north-northwest through the central and western Caribbean Sea," the advisory explained.
The NHC emphasized that regardless of whether a tropical depression forms, heavy local rainfall could affect parts of the western Caribbean, including Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba.
The probability of storm formation stands at 60% over the next 48 hours and 80% within the next seven days.
Impacts Beyond the Caribbean
Meanwhile, a vast area of disorganized showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds is spreading from near Puerto Rico and Hispaniola to the northeast, associated with a trough of low pressure. Heavy rainfall is possible over the next few days in the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, eastern Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas, regardless of further system development.