Tropical Storm Ernesto deteriorated into a mere tropical wave Sunday afternoon as persistent shear took its toll on the poorly organized weather system.
Hurricane forecaster Richard Pasch at the National Hurricane Center noted Sunday that the "continuing shear led to the storm fizzling out." The remnant of Ernesto are expected to move toward the west-northwest across the tropical Atlantic, he added.
Meteorologist Alan Archer said Monday morning that the remnants of Ernesto should arrive near the region Tuesday, bringing a mix of sunshine and scattered showers.
He said a weak area of high pressure has settled in overnight across part of the Atlantic, Eastern Caribbean and the Virgin Islands.
"This will generate a sunshine-filled day on Monday, but the fair weather will be replaced by some scattered shower activity Tuesday as the tail remnants of Ernesto near," Archer said.
Another area of disturbed weather days away is being monitored for possible signs of development.
The system, located about 1,250 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles, consists of a tropical wave and a weak low pressure center and was located around 40 degrees west longitude, moving westward at 10-15 miles per hour.
"Forecast models have the area of weather becoming a bit better organized over the next couple of days," Archer said, noting that at present "the system is really a mass of shower activity accompanied by the low pressure center." He said the system became better organized overnight.
Hurricane forecaster Stacy Stewart said Monday morning that a tropical depression could form out of the system during the next day or two.