As the Atlantic hurricane season enters a "tropical red zone," a new tropical storm has formed east of the Lesser Antilles, and another depression or tropical storm may soon follow near Florida.
On Saturday afternoon, the system east of the Lesser Antilles was named Tropical Storm Dorian by the National Hurricane Center.
The area being monitored near Florida has been dubbed Invest 98L by the National Hurricane Center. The center of the disturbance was located over South Florida as of Saturday afternoon.
"All interests along the southern Atlantic coast of the United States are encouraged to monitor the progression of 98L and what may become a tropical storm," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said of the budding disturbance near Florida.
This satellite image from Saturday morning, Aug. 24, 2019, shows the cluster of showers and thunderstorms near Florida and the Bahamas that forecasters are closely monitoring for potential tropical development. (NOAA)
Most of the shower and thunderstorm activity with this disturbance will remain to the east of the Florida Peninsula. However, localized downpours can still impact eastern areas of the state.
"By Saturday night or Sunday, the center of 98L will move northeastward off the east coast of Florida into the warm waters of the southwestern Atlantic," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
"Once this happens, 98L would move into an area conducive for development into a tropical depression or storm as it will be centered in an area with warm water and relatively low vertical wind shear," Pydynowski added.
As the feature travels over the Florida Peninsula, outbreaks of drenching and gusty thunderstorms are anticipated. Motorists may experience incidents of street and highway flooding, mainly along the eastern coast.
Beach and boating interests along much of the Florida Peninsula should keep an eye out for rapidly developing and approaching squalls that can make seas and surf rough and produce lightning strikes into Sunday.
RELATED:
The conditions may generate a couple of waterspouts as well.
As the feature begins to agitate the ocean, moderate to strong rip currents can develop.
It is from Sunday to Tuesday, as the feature swings back out over the Atlantic, when quick organization and strengthening may take place over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.
"An uptick in winds and building seas and surf are likely along the Carolina coast to New Jersey during this period, even if the center of the storm remains offshore," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
"There is the risk of coastal flooding and minor beach erosion, especially at times of high tide," Anderson said.
An area of high pressure over the interior Northeast will assist with enhancing the onshore breeze along the mid-Atlantic coast.
Since a front and moisture will remain stalled over the southeastern United States into early next week, areas of torrential downpours and flooding can occur even with the system remaining at sea.
At this time, steering winds are likely to keep the center of the storm off the Carolina coast and the mid-Atlantic region as well next week.
However, this track may change.
The exact track over the western Atlantic will be dependent on how quickly the tropical feature strengthens, as well as the position of high pressure in the Northeast and an approaching cool front in the Midwest next week.
As long as a blocking pattern does not develop, the storm will likely continue to move northeastward and stay at sea. However, should steering winds buckle due to a blocking pattern, the storm could be drawn back to the coast.
At this time, there is a greater chance of a track back toward the coast from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, Canada, rather than the mid-Atlantic or New England at the end of next week.
Tropical Storm Dorian forms in south-central Atlantic
A tropical wave to the east of the Lesser Antilles that AccuWeather meteorologists have been monitoring for possible development over the past few days became Tropical Depression 5 on Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, it was named Tropical Storm Dorian.
The feature is expected to reach the Windward Islands around Tuesday or Wednesday.
This satellite image shows Tropical Depression Five to the east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles on Saturday morning, Aug. 24, 2019. (NOAA)
"Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are likely to reach the Leeward Islands Tuesday and Tuesday night," Pydynowski said.
It is possible that this feature may be a strong tropical storm or perhaps even a hurricane at this point, depending on how much wind shear it encounters.
All interests from Cuba to Hispaniola and Puerto Rico should closely monitor the path of this feature as it crosses the Lesser Antilles and eventually reaches the eastern Caribbean.
Elsewhere over the Atlantic Basin, Chantal, which was once a tropical storm, has dissipated.
As additional tropical waves emerge from Africa, there will be an ongoing risk of development as wind shear, dry air and dust diminish over the Atlantic Basin in the coming weeks.
This is the time of the year when development can occur just about anywhere over the Atlantic, which means well at sea or near the coast of North America.
People should not expect the quietness of June, July and the first part of August to be a reflection on what the balance of the Atlantic hurricane season will bring.
AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate that multiple tropical storms and/or hurricanes to be in progress at the same time in the coming weeks.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert of tropical and severe weather advisories. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
No comments:
Post a Comment