At a Glance

A tropical disturbance is located near Hispaniola.There is a small chance it could become a tropical depression this weekend near the northwest Bahamas or off the Southeast U.S. coast.This surge of tropical moisture is fueling downpours across Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands.Another tropical disturbance is also moving through the far eastern Atlantic.This also has a chance to develop this weekend or next week.

A Caribbean disturbance is unlikely to develop into a tropical depression but is still bringing a threat of heavy rain and flash flooding to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is also watching a second disturbance in the eastern Atlantic for possible tropical development this weekend or early next week.

Caribbean Disturbance

An area of unsettled weather continues to migrate through the Caribbean toward the southeast Bahamas.

The NHC has given this system only a low chance (10%) of developing into a tropical depression once it moves near Florida and the northwestern Bahamas this weekend.

Land interaction with the Caribbean Islands and unfavorable upper-level winds are the main reasons that further development of this system is unlikely over the next few days.

Potential Development Area

(The potential area of tropical development according to the latest National Hurricane Center outlook is shown by a polygon, color-coded by the chance of development over the next five days. An "X" indicates the location of a current disturbance.)

Regardless of development, locally heavy rain and flash flooding is possible across Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands over the next couple of days while the disturbance drifts northwestward.

The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through Wednesday evening.

Eastern portions of Puerto Rico had already picked up through Tuesday afternoon, according to the NWS. One bridge was washed away by runoff from a small creek in Humacao.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches (locally, up to 6 inches) are possible in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola.

The chance of flash flooding is high due to this additional heavy rainfall atop soggy soil and mountainous terrain.

This system could also eventually enhance rainfall in parts of Florida late this week.

Current Puerto Rico Radar

Eastern Atlantic System

A separate tropical disturbance in the far eastern Atlantic also bears watching for possible development.

This system emerged over water from western Africa on Sunday and is now located a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

Strong upper-level winds will inhibit development over the next couple of days, but we will continue to monitor it as it traverses the open tropical Atlantic Ocean over the next week or so. The NHC said environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for development by early next week.

The NHC currently gives this system a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression during the next five days.

Potential Development Area

(The potential area of tropical development according to the latest National Hurricane Center outlook is shown by a polygon, color-coded by the chance of development over the next five days. An "X" indicates the location of a current disturbance.)

(MORE: Here's When the Atlantic Hurricane Season Typically Ramps Up)

Chantal and Dorian will be the names of the next two tropical storms that develop in the Atlantic Basin.

Check back to weather.com for updates throughout the week.