Disturbance near South America worth watching

Of  the three disturbances in the Atlantic, only one east of South America is of potential concern to the Caribbean or the United States.

While the models are spread, they generally aim it toward the central or eastern Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center said environmental conditions could become favorable for slow development.

For now, the strong tropical wave is being given a low chance of development over the next two days. At 8 a.m. on Thursday, it was about 1,000 miles southeast of the Windward Islands, moving northwest at 15 to 20 mph.

The two other disturbances likely will curve northeast out to sea, at least if the models are correct.

One, 700 miles southeast of Bermuda, was given a 60 percent chance of developing over the next two days. The other, 1,200 miles northwest of the Cape Verde Islands, was given a 50 percent chance.

The next three names on the storm list: Shary, Tomas and Virginie.