Tropical Storm Kirk accelerating over Atlantic; Leslie to dissipate

The National Hurricane Center forecasts Kirk will gain faster westward motion across the deep tropical Atlantic Ocean through Tuesday but weakening is likely during the middle to latter part of the week. Image courtesy NOAA

By Allen Cone and Daniel Uria, UPI

Tropical Storm Kirk was accelerating westward over the eastern tropical Atlantic as Subtropical Storm Leslie formed Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Kirk, which became a named storm Saturday, was moving westward 23 mph at 40 mph and was 645 miles southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands, the NHC said in its 5 p.m. advisory.

The NHC said in an 5 p.m. advisory Leslie remained a subtropical storm but was expected to be a short-lived cyclone as it was moving west at 3 mph at 40 mph 1145 miles west-southwest of the Azores.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect for either storm.

For Kirk, tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles to the north of the center. For Leslie, 40 mph winds winds extend outward up to 230 miles from the center.

Kirk is predicted to make an even faster westward motion across the deep tropical Atlantic Ocean through Tuesday but weakening is likely during the middle to latter part of the week.

"The biggest limiting factors for intensification would be the cyclone's fast motion and possible entrainment of dry air," NHC forecaster Robbie Berg said in a discussion. "Like every other tropical cyclone which has approached the Lesser Antilles from the east this season, Kirk is expected to run into strong westerly shear in 4-5 days, resulting in weakening as the cyclone gets closer to the islands."

Leslie, which became the 12th named storm was expected to move slowly Sunday and Monday, the NHC said. After that time, with the development of the new low to the north, Leslie will likely move east until it becomes absorbed.