Tropical Storm Ophelia 2017 Path, Track News Update: Storm to Strengthen Into a Hurricane by Thursday

Another tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, making it the 15th named storm of this year's destructive hurricane season.

Tropical Storm Ophelia continues to move and strengthen over the far Eastern Atlantic. It is currently moving southeastward and it is expected turn into a hurricane by Thursday, Oct. 12, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.

The latest forecast indicates that Ophelia as of Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 11 p.m. AST is located about 682 nautical miles southwest of the Azores and is moving southeast at 6 mph. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kt with gusts of up to 55 kt.

"A cold front off the coast of Texas and Mexico extends across the northwest Gulf waters with isolated showers," the NHC said in a statement. Surface troughs are noted along the far eastern Gulf waters. Meanwhile, the Bay of Campeche should continue to see scattered moderate convections.

In the next 24 to 48 hours, the cold front should move southeast across the western Gulf of Mexico.

In the Caribbean Sea, tropical waves are moving to the central Caribbean. While Scatterometer data indicates that there is gentle to moderate trades across the basin, an upper-level low is centered North of Hispaniola and is enhancing convection over the northeast Caribbean. This is expected to affect Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Little change, however, is expected to occur elsewhere.

The upper-level low should move west in the next 48 hours; consequently, the convection should move westward.

Isolated rain showers should be expected in Hispaniola; as tropical waves begin to extend toward the eastern part of the island. The convection should spread throughout the island in the next 48 hours.

The NHC should announce further developments of the storm. Stay tuned for more updates on Tropical Storm Ophelia.