MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- The future strengthening abilities of tropical storm Fiona are questionable in the open central North Atlantic Ocean late this week.
Late Thursday night, the storm was located over 1,100 miles from the Cape Verde Islands, moving northwest at a slower pace of 8 mph.
Its peak winds were 45 mph, still a low-end tropical storm strength.
A considerable amount of dry air awaits Fiona as it travels on a northwest track. The lack of moisture will inhibit intensification efforts, despite water temperatures above 80°, which would typically allow a tropical storm to intensify. A zone of modest upper-level wind shear will also contribute to slow intensification, or perhaps even hasten a degrading storm structure pattern.
