Tropical Depression Twelve West of Cabo Verde Islands, Expected to Become Karl

September 14,2016
Tropical Depression Twelve is now moving westward in the Atlantic Ocean away from the Cabo Verde Islands.
As of Wednesday night, the depression was centered over 250 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.
(MORE: Check the Forecast for Tropical Storm Julia)

Current Storm Information

The depression is forecast to move westward along the southern periphery of a ridge of high pressure in the central Atlantic through the next five days.
The National Hurricane Center expects the depression to strengthen into Tropical Storm Karl on Thursday.
(MORE: How Often Do Tropical Cyclones Form Over Land?)

Projected Path

A combination of wind shear and cooler water temperatures will keep the depression from strengthening much the next three to five days. Beyond that time, there is plenty of forecast uncertainty with regards to its track and intensity.

Current Wind Shear and Satellite

It's far too early to know whether this system will affect any land areas down the road. Check back the next several days for updates.
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 these systems become a threat, now is a good time to make sure you have a plan before a hurricane hits.
MORE: Hurricanes from Above