It’s a weird and scary hurricane season this year. Hawaii took on Hurricane Lane and is now facing Tropical Storm Olivia, and the East Coast is bracing itself for the wrath of Hurricane Florence. Although all eyes are on Hurricane Florence and its path toward the Carolinas, other hurricanes and tropical storms are brewing as well. And the timing couldn’t be more convenient: Monday was the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is when storm activity has historically been at its highest.
A new storm has been named, Tropical Storm Issac, but while the National Hurricane Center downgraded Isaac to a tropical storm overnight, they said Tuesday that it could be “at or near hurricane levels” on Thursday, when it approaches the Lesser Antilles Islands. Winds of tropical storm strength could reach Puerto Rico on Friday morning.
Tropical storms generate winds between 39 and 73 mph, which are just below hurricane force. Issac is expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rain across Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe, with near 10 inches possible in isolated areas, forecasters said. Additionally, tropical storm watches are in effect for Antigua, Montserrat and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Closer to Africa than North America is Hurricane Helene, which is predicted to head northeast in the Atlantic, before veering toward Europe, the center said. Sustained winds on Tuesday afternoon neared 105 mph, making it a very strong Category 2 storm, though it is expected to gradually weaken over cooler waters. No coastal watches or warnings are in effect currently.
By: Maytinee Kramer
