Tropical Storm Karl Fighting Shear, but Expected to Gain Strength in Trek Across Atlantic

September 16,2016
Tropical Storm Karl is now crossing the Central Atlantic and is moving westward away from the Cabo Verde Islands. The tropical storm is battling wind shear, but is expected to intensify when shear diminishes.
As of Friday evening, Karl was centered about 1700 miles east of the Leeward Islands.
(MORE: Check the Forecast for Tropical Storm Julia)

Current Storm Information

Karl is forecast to move westward to west-southwestward along the southern periphery of a ridge of high pressure in the central Atlantic through the next five days.
(MORE: How Often Do Tropical Cyclones Form Over Land?)

Projected Path

A combination of wind shear and dry air will keep the storm from strengthening much the next day or two.
As of right now, it appears unlikely that Karl will directly impact land, but enhanced surf and rip currents could impact the Leeward Islands and Bermuda next week.

Current Wind Shear and Satellite

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 this system becomes a threat, now is a good time to make sure you have a plan before a hurricane hits.
MORE: Hurricanes from Above