"Rafael" Forms in E. Caribbean; Shear Hammering "Patty".... 
Take note of the ragged cut-off & bad data over the far E. Atlantic. The problem is that the GOES-13 satellite is malfunctioning. Work is ongoing but for the time being the satellite -- GOES-15 -- that usually covers the Western U.S. & parts of the Pacific has been moved east to cover more of the Atlantic Basin. Click here for info. from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Studies (CIMSS) & to view other satellite sectors.
"Patty" (not peppermint!) is losing the battle to southwesterly upper level shear. The combination of the upper level west/southwesterly winds & low level northeast wind should continue to keep the system from becoming vertically aligned. Therefore, no signficant strengthening is expected. The shallow remnant low pressure system will drift southwest with the low level wind pattern & should dissipate before reaching the Bahamas. Even so....there will be some gusty winds for the Central & SE Bahamas & occasional heavy showers & t'storms through the weekend.
"Rafael" has developed from the strong tropical wave in the E. Caribbean. Indications continue to be that this system will take a sharp northward turn on its approach to the Eastern Caribbean &/or Puerto Rico thanks to persistent upper level troughing over the E. U.S. & W. Atlantic. "Rafael" will stay well east of Fl. but bring heavy rain & gusty winds to parts of the Lesser Antilles & possibly eventually Puerto Rico the next few days.
