ORLANDO, Fla. – And just like that, the tropics are jumping.
Tropical Storm Bill has formed off North Carolina.
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The storm has sustained winds of 45 mph and is moving northeast at 23 mph.
The storm is expected to move away from the United States, and it should travel over colder waters south of Nova Scotia by early Wednesday, ending any opportunity for further development.
Meanwhile, a large area of cloudiness and showers located over the Bay of Campeche is associated with a broad low-pressure area.
Some slow development of this disturbance is possible during the next few days while it meanders near the coast of Mexico, and a tropical depression could form late in the week when the system begins to move slowly to the north.
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Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is possible over portions of Central America and southern Mexico during the next several days.
There’s a 70% chance of development over the next five days.
Also, a disturbance off Africa has tough sledding ahead. Saharan dust could dry it out and upper-level winds are forecast to become somewhat hostile over the Central Atlantic, but it’s a strong enough disturbance that it will bear watching moving forward.