The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently tracking an emerging low-pressure weather system, labeled AL96, that has the potential to strengthen into a tropical depression over the coming days. Situated hundreds of miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, this system is linked to a broad tropical wave moving across the basin. While associated showers and thunderstorms remain scattered and unstructured at this stage, the atmospheric and oceanic conditions across the region currently offer moderate support for gradual organization and strengthening. According to official NHC forecasts, the system is projected to continue its westward to west-northwestward track across the eastern and central portions of the tropical Atlantic over the next 48 hours, putting the odds of tropical depression formation at 60% within that window. Forecasters caution, however, that environmental conditions are expected to degrade starting this weekend, with unfavorable atmospheric patterns likely to slow or halt further development of the system. The NHC has emphasized that it will continue issuing regular updates on AL96 as it tracks across the Atlantic, keeping coastal communities and maritime operations informed of any changes in the system’s trajectory or intensity.
NHC warns of potential tropical depression formation in Atlantic
