Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms

In the Atlantic:

Tropical Disturbance 97L - The tropical wave will likely spread heavy rains to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic by Tuesday, and to Haiti by Wednesday. These rains will be capable of causing life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides in mountainous regions in Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. The National Hurricane Centre has boosted the 5-day odds of formation of 97L to 30%.

The main factor keeping the disturbance from developing over the next two days would appear to be the fact that 97L is quite large, and is stretched out from east to west over a wide expanse. Large, elongated systems like 97L usually take several days to consolidate and spin up. Another factor that will likely retard development is the presence of strong surface trade winds over the Eastern Caribbean ahead of 97L, south of the Dominican Republic. These strong trade winds are a common feature of the Eastern Caribbean, and make the region something of a hurricane graveyard. The National Hurricane Centre has boosted the 5 - day odds of formation of 97L to 30%.

In the Western Pacific:

Tropical storm Toraji is located approximately 124 nm west of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

In the Eastern Pacific:

Tropical storm Kiko is located about 380 mi (610 km) W of the southern tip of Baja California. No threat to land. The cyclone could become stationary as a remnant low on Tuesday and Wednesday.

NewsBytes:

Flooding in Bunkpurugu, Ghana has claimed the life of at least one person and displaced nearly six thousand people. About 700 houses have been submerged by the floods.

A tornado in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo has injured at least 63 people. Most of the injured people are the members of a volleyball team at a local middle school. More than 100 buildings have been damaged in Koshigaya area. The tornado also damaged 27 cars and the roofs of 68 houses in Noda.