Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is well underway, with three named storms developing in less than a month, and AccuWeather meteorologists say more impacts are in the forecast this week. Meanwhile, the first named tropical systems of the year could spawn in the East Pacific Ocean.
The most recent tropical storm to form in the Atlantic basin was Cindy, which became the third named tropical system since the start of the season when it developed late on Thursday, June 22.
Currently designated as a tropical rainstorm by AccuWeather, Cindy was located over the open waters of the Atlantic, centered more than 600 miles to the south-southeast of Bermuda on Monday morning. At peak wind intensity, Cindy was a tropical storm with wind gusts of 60 mph. The storm has since lost wind intensity.
Tropical Rainstorm Cindy is first expected to track near the islands of Bermuda around the middle of the week. The exact track and timing of Cindy’s approach will depend on a number of factors, including how quickly the front along the East Coast moves out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Some gusty winds are possible as Cindy approaches land, particularly along coastal locations east of the storm’s center. Rough seas and surf should also be anticipated late this week and through the weekend across Atlantic Canada.
While the waters will remain warm in the basin, the strong wind shear that helped cause Cindy to lose wind intensity and displace the storm’s rainfall is likely to persist. This combination is likely to prevent the formation of any new named storms across the Atlantic this week, which is typical for this time of year.
Unlike in the Atlantic, the East Pacific has not had any named storms so far this year. However, the ocean waters to the south and west of Mexico may come to life this week with a burst of tropical development.
The East Pacific hurricane annually begins on May 15, several weeks ahead of the Atlantic season which officially gets underway on June 1. But thus far, the basin has been quiet in terms of tropical activity.
Wednesday or Thursday look like the most likely days for a tropical system to develop, with a second storm possibly arriving later in the week. The first two names on the list forecasters are using to name storms in the East Pacific this year are Adrian and Beatriz.
Given the atmospheric pattern across the East Pacific, the first tropical feature, if it develops, is unlikely to impact land directly. As any tropical system moves westward, it will move farther away from Mexico and Central America.
Produced in association with AccuWeather
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