Tropical Disturbance Near Puerto Rico May Gain Strength

by Susan Kravitz

MIAMI, USA - "Heavy rains over Puerto Rico and Hispaniola could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the center said on its official website on Monday at 11 a.m. EST in a special tropical disturbance statement.

Forecasters estimate that the storm could produce fairly heavy squalls and wind gusts across the island of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola.

Current wind conditions have made it less likely that a cyclone will develop during the next 24 hours, the hurricane center said. At the time of the update the disturbance was moving west-southwest at about 20 miles per hour.

This disturbance comes despite hurricane season ending on November 30. Tropical cyclones, known in the Atlantic as depressions, storms or hurricanes, are mostly likely during the six-month season. A tropical depression has sustained winds of less than 38 miles per hour. Tropical storm winds range from 39 to 73 mph, with anything stronger classified as a hurricane.