Storms may lead to tropical depression in Atlantic

15 August 2008 15:37  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Thunderstorm activity increased on Friday in a Caribbean weather system that may strengthen into a tropical depression, US meteorologists said.

The system was over near Puerto Rico as of 07:00 Houston time (12:00 GMT), according to the National Huricane Center.

A hurricane-hunter aircraft from the Air Force Reserve is scheduled to investigate the system later in the day.

The weather system could strengthen into a depression any time today, the centre said.

Meanwhile, a second weather system in the Atlantic Ocean has a medium chance of forming into a tropical depression, the centre said. That system is about 750 miles east of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.

A tropical depression had maximum sustained winds of 38 miles/hour (62km/hour), according to the center.

Depressions can strengthen into tropical storms and, ultimately, into hurricanes, which have winds of at least 74 miles/hour.

The US petrochemical industry is concentrated along the Gulf coast and even the threat of a storm can disrupt supplies.

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By: Al Greenwood
+1 713 525 2653

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