Tropical Storm Karl may strengthen into the 5th Atlantic hurricane of the season

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

September 16,2016; 10:05PM,EDT

 

 

Tropical Storm Karl, located over the eastern Atlantic, formed on Thursday night and could eventually become the next hurricane in the Atlantic.
The system, formerly known as Tropical Depression 12, will pose no immediate threat to land over the next several days as it tracks westward across the Atlantic Basin.
This storm moved off the African coast earlier this week and is now moving away from the Cabo Verde Islands.

Any cargo or cruise ships tracking from the Leeward Islands to Africa should be on alert for rough seas and find alternative routes if able.
Whether this system will have any eventual impact to land later this month is still in question.
"It's too early to tell at this point whether the system will impact the Lesser Antilles and Virgin Islands sometime next week," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.
This is a satellite loop of the Atlantic Basin. (NOAA/Satellite)
An area of high pressure centered over the North Atlantic will drive the system.
A track north of the Caribbean Islands may favor strengthening and could mean a potential impact to the Bahamas, Bermuda or the East Coast of the United States.
Meanwhile, a track farther south over the Caribbean will bring drenching rain to the islands but could shred the storm apart as it interacts with higher terrain.
Any of these scenarios wouldn't occur until later next week or next weekend.
"Tropical Storm Karl bears watching as long-term computer guidance has been persistent in developing the system as it approaches the United States during the last week of the month," Kottlowski said.
Karl will struggle with dry air and disruptive winds into early next week. However, the system is likely to move into an area more favorable for substantial strengthening later next week.
As a result, Karl could become the fifth hurricane of the season in the Atlantic.
RELATED:
AccuWeather Hurricane Center
Top 5 US cities most vulnerable to hurricanes
Typhoon Malakas to threaten Taiwan, Japan with flooding rain
This system joins Ian and Julia in the Atlantic Basin.
Another disturbance forecast to move off the African coast will be the next feature to monitor for development. After Karl, the next name on the list is Lisa.
While the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is now in the rearview mirror (Sept. 10), forecasts still favor additional tropical waves emerging from West Africa and potentially developing in the eastern tropical Atlantic, AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root said.
The Atlantic Hurricane season officially runs through Nov. 30.