The ability of the GFS and NOGAPS models to forecast the precursor low pressure system of Atlantic tropical cyclones in the 1998-2002 period is examined. Forecasted model fields of surface pressure, 850 mb vorticity and 150-300 mb divergence are verified against observational data to determine forecast skill. This obervational data includes the Tropical Prediction Center's archived surface analyses and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) satellite-derived vorticity. The forecast skill of these models for two tropical cyclone cases are presented.