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System forms over southwestern Caribbean Sea

Increase in winds and rough seas along with some thundershowers expected possibly from Thursday morning through the weekend

Reshma Ragoonath

14 June 2022

Forecasters say slow development is possible this week for a weather system located over the southwestern Caribbean Sea.

The National Weather Service, in its afternoon forecast Monday, said models are generating an area of disturbed weather, near the northeast coast of Nicaragua and Honduras, to which the NHC have given a 40 percent chance of developing over the next five days.

“Initial forecast suggest that this system should not significantly impact the Cayman area with an increase in winds and rough seas along with some thundershowers expected possibly from Thursday morning through the weekend,” it said.

Hazard Management Cayman Islands, in a post on the system on its official Facebook page, said the US National Hurricane Center is advising that there is low probability of development of a tropical cyclone in the southwestern Caribbean Sea over the next five days.

However, it said, “With an active season forecast, residents should increase levels of preparedness and monitor products issued by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service and other official sources of information.”

The US National Hurricane Center said Monday the broad area of disturbed weather is associated with a surface trough of low pressure.

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“Some slow development is possible, and a tropical depression could form by late this week if the system remains over water. The disturbance is expected to move northwestward near the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras during that time. Regardless of development, this system could produce periods of heavy rainfall across portions of eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras late this week,” the NHC said in its afternoon advisory.

The system has a 40% chance of formation over the next five days.

Meanwhile Monday’s forecast, the NWS said, shows moderate east to southeasterly winds with moderate seas which are expected to continue across the Cayman area over the next 24 hours in association with a ridge north of the Caribbean.

“Satellite images show scattered multi-layered clouds mostly south and southwest of Cayman area. This is associated with a tropical wave which is expected to continue to move westward overnight. As the cloudiness decreases, hazy conditions will become more noticeable as another plume of Saharan dust moves into the western Caribbean,” it added.

For the latest information on storm activity in the Cayman Islands, as well as information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit the ALT Storm Centre.