Things have been relatively quiet in the tropics lately, but now the National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on two areas of interest.  One in the south Atlantic only has a low chance for development in the next 48 hours, but the other to the north was just named Tropical Storm Grace.  It looks pretty healthy on satellite and is expected to move toward the British Isles.

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Typically the peak of hurricane season is during mid-September.  However, after “Fred” fizzled out over the weekend, we are left without any named storms in the Atlantic Basin (which is completely fine with me).  Activity typically starts to wind down late September through October, but don’t let your guard down yet.  If we get another named storm, the next one on the list is “Grace.”

The National Hurricane Center currently has the remnants of Fred highlighted but does not expect re-generation into a tropical system.

Atlantic Basin Satellite Image

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Watching the Tropics

Hurricane Bill is long gone, but the tropics aren’t completely quiet.  The National Hurricane Center is watching two areas.  The area circled in orange just northeast of the Leeward Islands is the most interesting feature this evening.  This area shows a tropical wave interacting with an upper-level low moving toward the northwest.  The computer models have conflicting ideas regarding what to do with this area of unsettled weather.  We’ll keep an eye on it as the moisture could impact our weekend weather here in Hampton Roads and Northeast North Carolina. 

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Hurricane Bill, soon to become an extra-tropical storm, continues to race off to the northeast at over 30 mph.  After lashing Nova Scotia with wind and rain, Bill will move over Newfoundland overnight and then cross the Atlantic.  By the end of the week, Bill’s remnants will be a pretty big storm for the British Isles. 

Bill's Forecast Track

Aside from Bill, the National Hurricane Center is watching a tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles.  Otherwise, the tropics are pretty quiet. 

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Hurricane Bill continues to gain strength in the Atlantic.  As long as our ridge of high pressure breaks down and a deep trough of low pressure swings over the East Coast by the weekend, we should be in the clear.  Any delay could cause Bill’s track to shift slightly westward toward Cape Cod, MA.  However, for now, it just looks like big waves and a high threat for rip currents at the beaches this weekend.  Stay safe!  We’ll keep you posted.

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

A third named storm, Tropical Storm Claudette, joined Ana and Bill today.  Claudette is making landfall over the panhandle of Florida tonight.  Heavy rain and flash flooding will be the primary threats tonight into Monday morning over the Florida panhandle and southeastern Alabama. 

Ana has weakened to a Tropical Depression in the Atlantic and Tropical Storm Bill continues to strengthen and will likely become a hurricane within the next 12 hours.  Bill’s forecast track is interesting.  It could either curl back out in the Atlantic Ocean (as many computer models are indicating) and not bother any landmasses, or it could threaten parts of the East Coast by next weekend.  Stay tuned for the latest updates.

Ana, Bill and Claudette

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson