Chance for tropical depression formation in central Atlantic decreases

The odds of a tropical depression forming in the central Atlantic Ocean have decreased since Tuesday, according to a National Hurricane Center forecaster. 

The cluster of showers and thunderstorms is located about 1,000 miles east of the southern Windward Islands as of Wednesday afternoon, said Dr. Richard Pasch, a Senior Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center, in a Tropical Weather Outlook.

The outlook said that there is a 50 percent chance that the disturbance will form into a tropical depression within two days as it moves to the west-northwestward near 15 mph. The odds remain the same within five days.

That’s down from a 70 percent chance Tuesday. 

The activity in the disturbance has been “gradually decreasing” since Tuesday, Pasch said.

Still, the forecaster said that environmental conditions are “marginally conducive” for tropical development.