Low chance of tropical cyclone near Virgin Islands

VIRGIN ISLANDS - A westward-moving area of low pressure, located to the northeast of the Virgin Islands, has a 20 per cent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Wednesday.

The low is producing a disorganized pattern of showers and thunderstorms mainly to the northeast and north of the Leeward Islands, the Miami-based weather forecaster said. "Upper-level winds are forecast to become increasingly unfavorable for tropical cyclone development while the system turns toward the northwest and north over the next couple of days," the NHC said.