After struggling with dry air and cold water upwelling earlier today, Tropical Storm Chris has resumed strengthening over the western Atlantic. Chris is likely to intensify into a hurricane tonight or tomorrow before it accelerates to the northeast.

As of 5:00 p.m. EDT Monday, Tropical Storm Chris was centered near 32.2°N 74.4°W, and was nearly stationary. Maximum sustained winds were 60 knots (70 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 996 mb. Chris is currently just below the threshold of hurricane strength. Despite an earlier dry air intrusion and cold water upwelling, the storm has become better organized today. An eye-like feature has been intermittently visible on visible satellite imagery, but reconnaissance aircraft data from the SFMR instrument indicates that Chris has not yet attained hurricane strength. Assuming the storm can mix out the dry air and upwelling is not a major factor, Chris should intensify into a hurricane by Tuesday. Wind shear is expected to remain low to moderate for the next 48 hours or so, and Chris will be over warm water when it begins to move northeastward. It’s not out of the question Chris reaches Category 2 status at some point if a more rapid intensification period begins when Chris accelerates to the northeast. No tropical storm or hurricane watches and warnings are currently in effect. The primary threat with Chris for the United States east coast is high surf and rip currents. It is possible, however, that Chris could bring heavy rainfall and tropical storm force winds to Newfoundland as an extratropical cyclone on Friday morning.

Beryl may regenerate north of the Bahamas later this week

The remnants of Hurricane Beryl are producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity, as well as gusty winds to tropical storm force, over the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The remnants are expected to cross Hispaniola on Tuesday and emerge into the western Atlantic Ocean shortly thereafter. If Hispaniola does not significantly disrupt the remnant vorticity of Beryl, the system could regenerate into a tropical cyclone by Thursday or Friday as it moves northwest and eventually north. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) gives the remnants of Beryl a 10 percent chance of regeneration within 48 hours, and a 50 percent chance within five days.I will be back with another post on Chris and ex-Beryl tomorrow.