Hurricane plane to check tropical system as pace quickens

Bloomberg News: The seventh tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season picked up speed as it churned west toward the Windward Islands, prompting the U.S. to send a hurricane reconnaissance aircraft today to investigate.

Tropical storm watches were issued for Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Vincent warning about the system 235 miles (380 kilometers) east- northeast of Barbados. The storm, moving at 24 miles per hour, has sustained 35 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm watch means at least 39 mph winds may strike the resort islands. After passing the Windwards and probably growing into a tropical storm, the system is forecast to dissipate in 48 hours due to unfavorable upper-level winds, the Miami-based NHC said in a 5 a.m. Atlantic time advisory.

A system off southern Mexico’s Pacific coast that’s partially associated with the remnants of the former Atlantic Hurricane Ernesto is given a 90 percent chance of re-forming into a tropical depression this weekend, the NHC also said...

Tropical Storm Ernesto on August 8, 2012