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Tropical Depression #5 may become a Hurricane late in the weekend as it approaches the Virgin Islands. (WDBJ - First Alert Weather / August 1, 2012) |
Tropical Depression #5 formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. It must gain tropical storm status before it gets a name. It would become "Ernesto," the fifth storm of the season.
Forecasters and the National Hurricane Center in Florida are predicting strengthening to a tropical storm status in the next 48 hours, and may become a hurricane by late in the weekend.
The latest model tracks have the system going into the Caribbean near Jamaica, then the Dominican Republic and Haiti early next week. From there, the tracks differ, but most have the system entering the Gulf of Mexico mid to late next week.
TROPICS HAVE BEEN QUIET
July was very quiet in the tropics. So far, the Atlantic Hurricane season has seen 4 depressions, all of them became Tropical Storms, and only one Hurricane (Chris).
The first storm, Alberto, formed May 19th, and Tropical Storm Beryl formed May 25th. Both storms developed ahead of the official start of the Hurricane Season which begins June 1st and lasts until November 30.
STORMS SO FAR
Tropical Storm ALBERTO
May 19-May 22
Top Winds: 60mph
Tropical Storm BERYL
May 25-May 30
Top Winds: 70mph
Hurricane CHRIS
June 19-June 22
Top Winds: 75mph
Tropical Storm DEBBY
June 23-June 27
Top Winds: 60mph
