Climatologically, developing tropical cyclones tend to have difficulty passing through the latitude and longitude that 97L currently is ... TPC is citing dry air at mid levels as the culprit for stymied development, this time, but there are other reasons why TCs have difficulties in that region of Caribbean Sea. In short ...if dry air is the only problem, this feature has a better prospect.

The feature looked more impressive on IR imagery for a couple of days prior to entering the eastern Caribbean. However, now more than ever it has acquired a more obvious cyclonic turning to CU and CB clouds, despite there being less overall convective structures. The deep layer profiles of the atmosphere look to remain conducive to further development.

TPC has again upped the hashed region to orange, or medium chance for intensification. There may be some interference by land as this system [probably] turns more NW and then has to pass over the PR archipelago.

John