A hurricane hunter aircraft has been sent to investigate a tropical wave east of Trinidad and Tobago, and has found no further development to categorise it as a Tropical Depression.
With strengthening, a system is upgraded from a Tropical Wave to a Tropical Depression, then to a Tropical Storm and then to a Hurricane.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said the aircraft found evidence of a sharp surface trough but confirmed that a well-defined circulation has not formed.
It said that although the system is currently disorganized, at least gradual development is anticipated and a tropical depression could form later this weekend or early next week.
The wave is forecast to move quickly westward for the next day or two.
The NHC said that regardless of development, heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible over much of the Lesser Antilles over the weekend.
It has given the system a 50 per cent chance of further development in the next 48 hours.
Trinidad and Tobago is still not in the clear, however.
Earlier today the Met Office raised the alert level from yellow to orange.
It said that periods of heavy to intense showers and/or thunderstorms are likely.
It added that heavy/intense downpours are expected to result in street/flash flooding.
Gusty winds in excess of 65 km/hr can be expected and the risk of landslides/landslips is very high in areas so prone.
Sea conditions are also likely to become occasionally rough.
It has suggested that adequate preparations be made to safeguard life and property.
It says that people who live in areas that are susceptible to flooding, especially areas along the main river courses and tributaries, should be prepared and create a safety plan in case of emergency.
Meanwhile, another tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa by Sunday and environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form early next week while the wave moves westward across the eastern tropical Atlantic.
This system has a high 90 per cent chance of development within the next five days.