ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Jerry is moving quickly across the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend, while a weak disturbance in the Bay of Campeche could bring heavy rain and gusty winds to southern Mexico.
Tropical Storm Jerry
Tropical Storm Jerry remains poorly organized Wednesday morning, with most of its thunderstorms displaced to the south and east of its center.
NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft are scheduled to take a closer look at the storm Wednesday afternoon.
Jerry is racing west-northwest at about 23 mph, guided by a strong ridge over the central Atlantic. On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass near or to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands late Thursday and Thursday night.
It is expected to strengthen over the next few days and it could become a hurricane by the weekend.
By Friday, a dip in the jet stream over the western Atlantic should turn Jerry northward, then northeast early next week — keeping the storm away from the U.S.
Tropical storm watches remain in effect for parts of the northern Leeward Islands.
Gulf System
Farther west, a trough of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche continues to produce disorganized showers and storms as it drifts toward the coast of southern Mexico.
While tropical development is unlikely, with only a 10% chance over the next two to seven days, the system will still deliver heavy rain and gusty winds across southern Mexico through early Thursday.