Tropical Storm Claudette forms in the Atlantic

Weak storm forms off the Carolina coast

Tropical Storm Claudette is not expected to have much of an impact on the US, her track shows NNE motion over the next 48 hours.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tropical Storm Claudette has formed in the Atlantic off of the Carolina coast. She is not expected to have much of an impact on the United States, her track shows northerly motion over the next 48 hours. 

The National Hurricane Center says, "The small low pressure area that moved off the coast of North Carolina over the weekend has lost its frontal characteristics and acquired organized deep convection overnight. The convection, albeit primarily over the eastern semicircle of the sheared system, has persisted for more the 12 hours. Recent ASCAT data indicated that the cyclone has maximum winds of 40 to 45 kt and a well-defined circulation. Based on these data, advisories are being initiated on Tropical Storm Claudette, the third tropical storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season.

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Claudette is expected to be a short-lived tropical cyclone since it will be moving over much cooler waters and into an area of increasing southwesterly shear tonight. The cyclone could strengthen slightly in the very near term, but is expected to weaken later tonight and become post-tropical shortly thereafter. The post-tropical cyclone is forecast to dissipate within 2 to 3 days as it accelerates northeastward. The global models are in good agreement, and the NHC track forecast is near the middle of the tightly clustered guidance.

At 100 PM AST (1700 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Claudette was located near latitude 37.4 North, longitude 68.1 West. Claudette is moving toward the northeast near 15 mph (24 km/h). A northeastward motion with some increase in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. Satellite data indicated that the maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast through this evening. Weakening is forecast to begin by Tuesday morning, and Claudette is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by Tuesday night. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).