7:00 AM CDT ATLANTIC BASIN TROPICAL UPDATE, AUGUST 25, 2004

[vbhoutex]

7:00 AM CDT ATLANTIC BASIN TROPICAL UPDATE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2004

Overnight satellite imagery and Dvorak estimates indicate that Tropical Depression #6 has formed in the far Eastern Atlantic about 1615 miles East of the Lesser Antilles Islands around Lat. 11.4N, Long. 37.6W. The estimated central pressure of TD#6 is 1008mb or 29.77inches. The depression is moving West at around 17 mph and is expected to continue this track and speed for the next few days. Currently highest sustained winds are estimated at 35 mph with higher gusts. Since the depression is expected to be in a favorable environment for development for the next few days, has good outflow established in all except the East quadrant, and has deep convection increasing near the center, more strengthening is expected and Tropical Storm Frances should form from TD#6 within the next 24 hours, more than likely later today. Most models show this system responding to a digging trough in the Central Atlantic which is expected to create a weakness in the ridge currently in place in the Atlantic and turn the future Frances to a more Northwesterly course after about 4-5 days before reaching the islands.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic Basin no tropical storm development is expected through Thursday.

This is NOT an OFFICIAL product. For an OFFICIAL product contact the NHC or your local NWS office.

By David Van Bergen(vbhoutex)