TROPICAL STORM GORDON COULD FORM BY TONIGHT

 By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

Aug 10, 2012; 6:20 AM ET

Tropical Depression Seven could become Tropical Storm Gordon before bringing drenching downpours and squalls to the Windward and Leeward islands this weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected over the next 48 hours. The depression has the potential to become a tropical storm on Friday.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists continue to monitor other features in the Atlantic Basin, including a system that will slowly organize in the coming days.

According to Tropical Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski, "While a large mass of dry air will continue to mitigate the system's strength in the short term, warm water and weak wind shear farther west could allow for modest development in the days ahead."

 

Conditions could become more favorable for strengthening into a tropical storm by tonight.

At this time, we do not expect a quick ramp-up through hurricane intensity levels

However, while the system is oriented about the same latitude as Ernesto was, it appears to be slightly more organized and perhaps slightly farther north.

"Folks in the Lesser Antilles should be ready for tropical storm conditions beginning this weekend," Kottlowski said.

Through the weekend at least, we should see a similar path to Ernesto with the same swift steering wind conditions.

Meanwhile, a tropical wave moving off the coast of Africa near the Cape Verde Islands bears watching for tropical development in the coming days.