What's up with Henri?

For a little while this morning, it looked like Henri, a tropical depression with winds near 35 mph at 2 p.m., was scheduling a future date with the Florida peninsular. At 8 a.m., one of the computer models showed the path of the system curling north up the southwest Florida coast, then scooting up to the west of Tampa Bay.

That model has changed significantly, however, this afternoon. Most of the models have a consensus track, with Henri staying on a westerly course, skirting northern parts of Cuba come a few days down the road.

Forecasters, however, aren't putting much stock in Henri's future, saying at 2 p.m. that it will likely dissipate into a remnant low by Thursday night.

Tropical Storm Henri forms in Atlantic Ocean

MIAMI (AP) Forecasters say Tropical Storm Henri (awn-'REE) has formed in the Atlantic Ocean but it could be short-lived.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tuesday afternoon the storm was about 600 miles (965 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands.

The storm is moving west-northwest about 18 miles per hour (30 kph) and is expected to stay well to the north of the Lesser Antilles.

Its maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph).

Forecasters say the eighth named storm of the Atlantic season could weaken below tropical storm strength as early as Wednesday night.

Tropical Storm Grace forms in Atlantic

MIAMI (AP) Forecasters say Tropical Storm Grace has formed far out in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean with winds at 65 mph.

The center of the storm was about 420 miles northeast of the Azores on Sunday night.

It's moving toward the northeast near 25 mph. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say the storm is expected to weaken in the next day.

They say Grace is expected to be absorbed by a non-tropical low pressure area over the northeastern Atlantic Monday night or Tuesday.

Are we done?

It has certainly been a quiet past few weeks out in the Atlantic basin, as far as tropical cyclone activity is concerned. The National Hurricane Center, however, is watching a new disturbance over by the Cape Verdes. Nothing to be wary about just yet, though. We'll let you know.

Remnants of Fred

In its 8 p.m. advisory, the National Hurricane Center said conditions could prompt the remnants of Hurricane Fred to redevelop. Showers and thunderstorms associated with his remains, which increased in intensity this morning, were about 900 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. There is currently a less than 30 percent of the system becoming a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours.

Fred weakens

Hurricane Fred has weakened to a Category 1 storm far off in the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. advisory.

Maximum sustained winds were near 90 mph.

Fred, about 740 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands and slowing down as it drifts north near 5 mph, is forecast to diminish to a tropical storm by Saturday.

Fred update

The latest advisory on Fred from the National Hurricane Center:


...FRED OVER THE FAR EASTERN ATLANTIC WITH 100 MPH WINDS...

AT 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FRED WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 16.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 35.1 WEST OR ABOUT 740 MILES...
1185 KM...WEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.

FRED IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR. FRED IS
FORECAST TO SLOW DOWN AND ONLY A SMALL NORTHWARD DRIFT IS EXPECTED
DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 100 MPH...160
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING
THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES...45 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115
MILES...185 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 974 MB...28.76 INCHES.