Tropical Storm Gaston Gradually Weakening in the Eastern Atlantic

August 24,2016
Tropical Storm Gaston will gradually weaken over the next couple of days between west Africa and the Lesser Antilles.
(MORE: Invest 99-L Approaching the Caribbean)
However, it has a somewhat more complicated future ahead.

Latest Status and Forecast

Gaston was centered about 1,200 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, as of Wednesday night, and was moving northwest at about 17 mph.

Current Storm Status

In general, the atmospheric steering pattern in the Atlantic Ocean suggests Gaston will eventually get drawn northwest into the central Atlantic Ocean.
It is most likely Gaston's center will remain to the east of Bermuda as it approaches that latitude by early next week. However, it is still a uncertain how close Gaston will come to Bermuda before making its final sharp northeast turn into the North Atlantic.
Interests in Bermuda should continue to monitor the progress of Gaston.
(MAP: Interactive Forecast Path)

Projected Path

Gaston will be subject to increasing west to southwesterly wind shear in the days ahead, which should keep a lid on the potential intensification of this tropical cyclone.
This wind shear may slacken off by the weekend, allowing Gaston to regain strength before it eventually gets pulled northeast into the north Atlantic.
We're now headed into, climatologically, the most active time of the Atlantic hurricane season.
(MORE: When Atlantic Season Peak Arrives)

Typical tropical storm and hurricane origin areas and tracks in August. This is **not** a forecast for this current system, merely a representation of August climatology.

This time of year, tropical waves, also known as African easterly waves, line up over Africa south of the Sahara Desert and emerge into the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
A fraction of these tropical waves serve as the seed for an Atlantic Basin tropical storm or hurricane each season.
Regardless of whether either system becomes a threat, now is a good time to make sure you have a plan before a hurricane hits.

(MORE: Hurricane Central)

Check back with us at weather.com for updates on this system.
MORE: Images of Hurricane Eyes