Tropical Storm Lisa forms in Caribbean

After being closely watched on Sunday and the National Hurricane Center having to label it “potential tropical cyclone 15” due to its proximity to land, there is a new tropical storm in the Caribbean, Lisa. It is expected to strengthen as it moves to the west.

On Sunday, the disturbance in the Caribbean was becoming stronger, but still lacked a well-defined center of circulation as it moved just south of the Hispaniola toward Jamaica. Its proximity prompted the National Hurricane Center to classify it as Potential Tropical Cyclone in order to issue advisories for local residents.

The system has become better organized and it is now Tropical Storm Lisa. It will continue moving west with a slight west-northwest variation through Tuesday, but on Wednesday a high-pressure system will once again shift its direction to the west-southwest as it gets closer to the Gulf of Honduras.

The high-pressure system will prevent it from moving northward, so there is no threat to the United States. Central America should monitor this system closely, especially Honduras, Belize, and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo as Lisa will likely strengthen on Tuesday into Wednesday to Hurricane status. Jamaica and the Cayman Islands can expect torrential rains and tropical-storm-force winds through the day on Monday and Tuesday.