Tropics Aug 29
National Hurricane Center
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Update (9:00am CDT) Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center now say Tropical Storm Erika is no longer. The system dissipated after interaction with Cuba and strong upper level winds. Watches and warnings for the land masses near the center of the former tropical cyclone have been discontinued.

There is a possibility for the system regenerate over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico early next week.

(Original Story)

Tropical Storm Erika has made some of the most brilliant minds and most intellectually perceived computer models in tropical forecasting look less than intelligent over the past couple of days.  The poorly organized system has continued to drift almost due west and still has not made the expected northerly turn around the western edge of the subtropical ridge centered just off the United States East Coast.

The best news about Erika is that the system is poorly organized and will not likely reach hurricane status before a final landfall. The maximum sustained winds are barely above the tropical storm threshold at 40 mph. Chances are Erika will become a tropical depression after crossing Cuba this weekend. Some forecasters are even suggesting this interaction with land and a strong upper level shear could break the storm apart. That would be a great scenario for all interest along the Gulf Coast.

Our advice to you is to continue to monitor this website for the latest updates. It might be a good idea to take an  inventory of your hurricane kit and at least review your emergency plans with your spouse, significant other, or family members. Chances are highly unlikely at this juncture that you will need to put those plans into action. However, Erika has shown to be a difficult storm to forecast.

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