(image via National Hurricane Center)
It is the end of August and we have had calm. Now we may see what this season brings. I still want calm.
Hurricane forecasters on Tuesday afternoon were tracking three disturbances in the Atlantic as the tropics enter what has historically been the busiest time of the season. It is too early to tell if any could eventually reach the continental U.S. The next available name is Danielle if any of the disturbances strengthen into at least a tropical storm. Meanwhile, the Gulf of Mexico is expected to be quiet for the next 48 hours, forecasters said. Here’s what we know about the tropics as of 1 p.m. Tuesday from the National Hurricane Center.
nola.com
The disturbance is now at the Windward Islands.
A large area of disturbed weather has formed and is several hundred miles southeast of the Windward Islands, forecasters said. It is expected to move into the southeastern Caribbean. The system is currently disorganized, forecasters said, but environmental conditions could become more conducive for development in a few days. It has a 20% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days. The shaded area on the graphic is where a storm could develop and is not a track. The National Hurricane Center releases a track when a tropical depression forms or is about to form. The categories, in order of increasing strength, are tropical depression, tropical storm and hurricane (categories 1 through 5). Systems are named when they develop into a tropical storm.
There is a disturbance off the African coast.
A tropical wave is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa in a couple days and then move west at 10 to 15 mph, forecasters said. Some slow development of this system is possible late this week or over the weekend, forecasters said. It has a 20% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days.
The third system is not to be worried about as it is not expected to form.
Further development is no longer expected for a tropical wave that’s several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, forecasters said. The disturbance is expected to move west at 10 to 15 mph over the next several days, forecasters said. Shower activity remains minimal and the system has a near 0% chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days. See the full outlook.
This is the busiest time of the season and the water is warm.
The busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season is getting started. In the last 100 years, the tropics have been the most active in August, September and October, with Sept. 10 being the peak of the season, according to federal forecasters. About 80% of the systems that have hit the Gulf Coast formed during this time, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell. So far, there have been three named storms this season – Alex, Bonnie and Colin. Hurricane season ends Nov. 30, but storms can form any time.
(graphic via NOAA)
Now is the time to review your plan and the necessities to have at home.
Now is the time to review hurricane plans and make sure your property is ready for hurricane season. Here are some tips from the National Weather Service for how to prepare for the season: Put together an emergency kit. Here are 60+ nonperishable items to consider including, Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters, Make a plan with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in touch and where you will go if there’s an emergency. Here’s how to decide if you should evacuate, Plan your evacuation route and have an alternate route. Here are 15 things to do before evacuating, Make a plan for your pets. Here are some tips, If you have a generator, check it and see if any maintenance needs to be done. Don’t forget these important generator safety tips, Do any maintenance you’ve been putting off on your vehicle, Review your insurance policies, Keep your trees around your home trimmed to prevent damage from broken branches. Here’s advice from gardening expert Dan Gill and Have materials in advance to board windows to protect them from flying debris.
As a public service I will probably do a daily post on the developments.
