A string of potential tropical storms across the Atlantic includes a new tropical depression just off the Island’s northwest.

The nearby Tropical Depression Six, which was last night said to have a 60 percent chance of turning into a tropical storm over the next 48 hours, is extremely unlikely to have any impact on Bermuda beyond scattered rain.

However, Bermuda Weather Service director Mark Guishard said: “There is some potential that at least one of the systems will be near Bermuda by the middle of next week, as a weak disturbance.”

Three bodies of disturbed weather lie at various points southeast of Bermuda, each with a medium (30 to 50 percent) chance of growing into a tropical storm, or potentially a hurricane, during the course of the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Centre in the US.

Dr Guishard said it was too early to predict whether any of them could threaten the Island. Each system has a different projected path.

“As is always the case during Hurricane Season, the public is reminded to check back frequently for updates to the forecast.”

In terms of numbers, he added, this year’s hurricane season has shown activity on a par with 2008, when five named storms had been seen by this time of year.

Useful websites: www.nhc.noaa.gov, www.stormpulse.com, www.weather.bm.