(cache) Tropical Storm Danielle Forms in Atlantic; Likely to Become Hurricane

(Aug. 23) -- Tropical Storm Danielle is expected to become the second hurricane of the Atlantic season, perhaps as early as this evening. The storm is days away from potentially threatening any land masses, and indications are that it will not pose a direct threat to either the Caribbean or the U.S.

As of 11 a.m. EDT today, Danielle had a sustained wind of 65 mph -- nine mph below hurricane strength -- and was about 1,025 miles to the west of the Cape Verde Islands. The storm was moving west-northwestward at 16 mph.

Atmospheric conditions have allowed steady strengthening of Danielle since Sunday evening, and additional strengthening is expected through Wednesday since the amount of wind shear the storm will encounter is decreasing, according to National Hurricane Center meteorologists. Forecasters are saying Danielle could become a hurricane by this evening.

Danielle will be steered west-northwestward by an upper-level high-pressure system to the north of the storm for the next couple of days. It's expected that the flow around the high-pressure system will pull the storm more northwestward during the middle of the week, and by Thursday or Friday, the storm is expected to take head in an even more northerly direction, most likely tracking to the east of Bermuda.

The forecast track can change in the coming days, and residents in Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast should monitor the track.

The Atlantic hurricane season was expected to be an active one, but it started at a fairly average pace. Sea surface temperatures -- potential fuel for hurricanes -- have remained well above normal; however, the presence of wind shear (upper-level winds that interfere with tropical storm and hurricane development) and dry air have prevented the development of storms in the tropical Atlantic.

The wind shear and dry air are not as pronounced as they were in previous weeks, though, which is why forecasters believe Danielle will become a hurricane. The reduction in these negative factors indicates that the Atlantic season could become much more active in the coming weeks. Disturbances from Africa, such as the one that gave birth to Danielle, will move into an environment much more conducive for development in the coming weeks.

Another such tropical wave of low pressure is currently moving westward from Africa into the eastern Atlantic, and while forecasters do no expect development in the next two days, the system has the potential to develop into a tropical storm or hurricane later this week.

Hurricane season typically peaks in the middle of September.