MIAMI, FL -- A tropical wave off the coast of Africa near the Cape Verde Islands is drifting westward and could become a tropical depression within the next few days.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says satellite imagery shows "well defined /low/mid level cyclonic circulation" and that conditions appear favorable for further development.
There is no cause for immediate concern. The system is some 3,800 miles from the Tampa Bay area.
The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quite, with no named storms thus far.
Forecasters warn Floridians not to become over-complacent. On August 14, 1992, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. On August 24, it hit south Florida as the first named storm of the season: Hurricane Andrew.
Meanwhile, Hawaii is bracing for Tropical Storm Felicia.
Officials are taking no chances even though the storm is rapidly weakening as it slips toward the islands.
Felicia has been downgraded to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with higher gusts. It's expected to weaken even more before hitting Hawaii late tomorrow. Several islands could experience heavy winds and rains.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says the storm's center is about 525 miles east of Hilo and 695 miles east of Honolulu.
Parts of Hawaii are under a tropical storm watch. Several beach parks on Hawaii's Big Island are closed today because the storm is expected to increase wave heights. Large surf is expected to spread to eastern shores of all islands tonight and tomorrow.
The Hawaii County Civil Defense is advising Big Island residents to be on alert for sudden increases in surf heights and to tie down loose items outside their homes. A flash flood watch has been issued for the Big Island starting tomorrow.
