Tropical Storm Grace Tracks Westward Through Atlantic

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

September 7,2015; 9:20PM,EDT

 

Tropical Storm Grace is keeping the Atlantic Basin active in the days leading up to the peak of hurricane season.
After taking shape on Saturday south of the Cape Verde Islands, Tropical Storm Grace is currently tracking westward through the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Warm water and low wind shear allowed Grace to strengthen on Sunday, but there has been a weakening trend on Monday.
"[Grace] is already battling dry air and wind shear which is disrupting the organization of the tropical storm," stated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
The storm will remain on a general westerly track heading over the open waters of the eastern and central Atlantic through much this week, posing hazards to only shipping interests.

Strong wind shear can weaken or lead to the total demise of a tropical system by displacing its thunderstorms from its center, essentially tearing it apart.
"It is possible that the storm will weaken into a tropical depression, or perhaps even a remnant low well before it encounters the Lesser Antilles," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Anthony Sagliani.
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Grace will approach the Lesser Antilles and Caribbean into this coming weekend. A weakened tropical system without flooding rain or damaging winds would be beneficial to the parts of the Caribbean that are still in the midst of a drought and not cleaning up in the wake of the devastating floods from Erika.

Grace is not the only feature being monitored by the AccuWeather Hurricane Center in the days leading up to the peak of hurricane season, which is Sept. 10.
A pair of tropical waves are set to emerge from Africa this week and will have to be watched for future development.
"At this time next week, we may very well have new tropical development across the eastern Atlantic," said Kottlowski.

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Those in the Cape Verde Islands who were recently impacted by Hurricane Fred should pay close attention to the potential tropical development in the upcoming week.