No threat to Caribbean from Tropical Storm Franklin

Tropical Storm Franklin, which formed over the Northwestern Caribbean late Sunday night, poses no threat to the region.

It is now moving toward the Bay of Campeche in the southern area of the Gulf of Mexico.

Franklin, the sixth storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, was carrying maximum sustained winds near 70 miles per hour (110kmph) earlier today.

“On the forecast track, the centre of Franklin will move into the Bay of Campeche in a few hours, move westward across the Bay of Campeche tonight and Wednesday, and be near the coast of mainland Mexico Wednesday night or early Thursday,” the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

“A strengthening trend is likely to begin when the centre moves over water, and Franklin could be near hurricane intensity at landfall in the southwest Gulf coast of Mexico.”

A hurricane watch is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Puerto de Veracruz to Rio Panuco; a tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Sabancuy and the coast of Mexico from Puerto de Veracruz to Rio Panuco; while a tropical storm watch is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Sabancuy to Puerto de Veracruz.

Meantime, there is also a trough of low pressure located about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

The NHC said development of this system is not expected during the next few days due to unfavorable environmental conditions, but some development is possible this weekend while the system moves generally west-northwestward at about 15 mph over the western Atlantic.

There is a low chance of it developing within the next two to five days.

Original source: Caribbean360