TCFA issued

SUBJ/TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION ALERT//
RMKS/1. FORMATION OF A SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE IS POSSIBLE
WITHIN 100 NM EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM 18.1N 85.3W TO 21.7N 87.6W
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. AVAILABLE DATA DOES NOT JUSTIFY ISSUANCE OF
A NUMBERED TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING AT THIS TIME. SATELLITE IMAGERY
AT 021700Z INDICATES THAT A CIRCULATION CENTER IS LOCATED
NEAR 18.1N 85.3W. THE SYSTEM IS MOVING NORTHWESTWARD AT 08 KNOTS.
2. REMARKS: CURRENT MODEL GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTING INTENSIFICATION OF A
TROPICAL DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN
SEA. SATELLITE IMAGERY AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT A WEAK
LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION IS EVIDENT. OVER THE PAST 12 HOURS DEEP
CONVECTION REMAINS PERSISTENT OVER THE AREA. WARM SEA SURFACE
TEMPERATURES OF 82 TO 85 DEGREES ALONG WITH A DEEP THERMAL LAYER WILL
AID IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. HOWEVER, MID TO UPPER LEVEL DRY AIR TO
THE NORTHWEST ALONG WITH HIGH WIND SHEAR VALUES OF 20 TO 30 KNOTS
WILL LIKELY HINDER ANY STRONG DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
3. THIS ALERT WILL BE REISSUED, UPGRADED TO A WARNING OR CANCELLED
BY 031800Z.//