Climate Impact Company upgrades the intensity risk forecast for Tropical Storm Grace to a potential category 3 major hurricane by later Friday in the southwest Gulf of Mexico.

A close look at emerging Tropical Depression 6 indicates a developing system. A tail of convection extends into the deeper tropics implying entrainment of high moisture content tropical air generally associated with intensification. This system has convection in all quadrants around an inner core, also a sign of organization.

A long-term established drought across Turkey has expanded westward to Italy and Southeast Europe during summer 2021. The 15-day forecast indicates further westward expansion is possible as hot and dry weather emerges for the middle third of August.

Australia Bureau of Meteorology indicates soil moisture anomalies across Australia in July are wetter than normal. A negative Indian Ocean Dipole (-IOD) coupled with an expected La Nina ahead favor a wet Australian climate into 2022. For the second year in a row Australia avoids a drought.