Conditions are becoming less supportive for tropical development in the Atlantic basin, but one final opportunity for development this month may emerge depending in part on the future of Cristina near Central America.
Meteorologists identified low-risk areas of potential development in the southwestern part of the Atlantic basin over the past couple of weeks, particularly over the Gulf, that ultimately did not lead to the first storm of the season. While that region is climatologically favored for tropical activity in June, several ingredients must come together for development to occur, including a well-defined area of low pressure.
Sea-surface temperatures remain sufficiently high across much of the region, generally above the 80-degree Fahrenheit threshold needed to support tropical development.
Early in June, a front stalled in the region, but there was no organized area of low pressure along that front. Wind shear also persisted across the region during much of June so far, disrupting the organization needed for a tropical depression to form.
The only nearby source of tropical low pressure currently lies outside the Atlantic basin.
