Tropical storm JULIA set to intensify approaching Nicaragua
From west to east;
As expected, Disturbance Thirty has deepened and formed Tropical Storm JULIA. Currently 200 miles west of Aruba, westbound at a brisk 16 knots. The cyclone is still relatively weak with gusts of just 45 knots as it is encountering some strong north-westerly wind shear but producing some impressive thunderstorms across the region. This will keep development at bay for the next 12 hours, but will end abruptly and with unchurned warm water below, JULIA will intensify to hurricane strength tomorrow as it heads for the coast of Nicaragua with some impact expected across the Guajira peninsula in northern Colombia and a swipe at the San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands as it passes overnight. Landfall is expected to occur on Sunday morning, but I have a hunch that it may run late.
Tropical Depression Twelve lost the battle against upper level wind shear in the eastern Atlantic and has dissipated.
Stand by for tropical storm conditions across northern Colombia and into the south-western Caribbean.