As it enters Caribbean waters on Tuesday (August 10), meteorologists tracking Potential Cyclone Six warn the system is likely to further develop into a tropical storm later today. 

The US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), in an advisory at 8:00 am Atlantic Standard Time (AST), indicated that a Hurricane Hunter aircraft—attached to parent organisation the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—is currently en route to further investigate the disturbance.

As at 8:00 am AST, Potential Cyclone Six was centred near latitude 16.0 North, longitude 63.1 West—or roughly 170 kilometres west of Guadeloupe. 

The system’s west-northwesterly movement has increased slightly to 28 kilometres/hour, while its maximum sustained winds have remained stable at 55 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts. 

The NHC, noting that little has changed in terms of Potential Cyclone Six’s strength, expects a gradual intensification over the next few hours, with the disturbance expected to become a tropical storm later this morning.  

The hurricane watchdog added that some weakening of Tropical Storm Fred, when it forms, is likely while the system interacts with Hispaniola over the course of Wednesday.

In the last several hours, tropical storm warnings have been activated for Puerto Rico, including nearby islands Culebra and Vieques, the US Virgin Islands, as well as the south coast of the Dominican Republic, from Punta Palenque eastward and on the north coast from Cabo Francés Viejo eastward.

Additionally, tropical storm watches are in effect for the listed countries/territories: 

• Martinique and Guadeloupe
• Saba and St. Eustatius
• Dominican Republic on the north coast from Cabo Francés Viejo to the Dominican Republic/Haiti border
• Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Gonaïves
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Southeastern Bahamas

The tropical storm watch issued for Dominica has been discontinued. 

On the forecast track, Potential Cyclone Six is expected to pass near or over the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late today into tonight, and be near or over Hispaniola on Wednesday.

The NHC still places a very high, 90 per cent likelihood for the system to further strengthen over the next two to five days. 

For its part, the Jamaica Meteorological Service, in a news release at 6:30 am, said that on its current trajectory Potential Cyclone Six poses no direct threat to the island.