Forecasters monitor weather system in the Atlantic for possible developments

Forecasters monitor weather system in the Atlantic for possible developments

2011-04-21 05:47:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Forecasters are monitoring a weather system in the Atlantic Ocean for possible developments that could make it a subtropical storm, more than a month ahead of the start of the hurricane season.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, the low pressure area was located about 460 miles (740 kilometers) northeast of San Juan in Puerto Rico. While the potential for development is believed to be low, forecasters said the system developed shower and thunderstorm activity near its center on Wednesday.

"Satellite data and ship reports indicate gale-force winds are occurring north of the center," said senior hurricane specialist Jack Beven at the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). "Slow development of this system is possible during the [next] couple of days as it moves west-northwestward at about 10 miles (16 kilometers) per hour."

The NHC estimates there is a small chance the system will become a subtropical cyclone within 48 hours before conditions become much less favorable for development.

If the system does develop into a subtropical storm, it will be given the name Arlene. The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season does not officially begin until June 1st, but storms sometimes form outside the season.

Last month, an extremely rare subtropical cyclone formed in the South Atlantic near southeastern Brazil. Arani, as it was called, briefly made landfall in Brazil but caused no casualties.

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