RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — About 300 miles west of the Cabo Verde islands, Tropical Depression Seven has developed in the Atlantic.
The system currently has sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and is moving quickly to the west-northwest at 18 miles per hour.
Possibly as early as tonight, the National Hurricane Center forecasts T.D. Seven to become Tropical Storm Gordon. Fortunately, over the next five days, this system is expected to stay in the open ocean and at tropical storm strength.
T.D. Seven is moving over warm water, which will help it gain strength, but wind shear is expected to have an impact on the storm by next week. That wind shear can help to tear apart or weaken tropical systems. So, as of right now, this particular system could remain a weaker tropical storm with sustained winds at 50 miles per hour.
Forecast models have the storm moving west-northwest, with some obvious variability, but the consensus is that it should remain in the open ocean for now.
Tropical Depression Seven is one of just several areas we are tracking across the tropics, including one off the North Carolina coast! To keep up to date on what we’re watching, click here and watch CBS 17.
