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Tropical Storm Gonzalo Expected to Become 2020’s First Atlantic Hurricane Tropical Storm Gonzalo Expected to Become 2020’s First Atlantic Hurricane
(about 4 hours later)
Tropical Storm Gonzalo is expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season as early as Thursday, forecasters said.Tropical Storm Gonzalo is expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season as early as Thursday, forecasters said.
The system, which became a tropical storm on Wednesday, was over the central Atlantic and moving west at 14 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 60 m.p.h. at 2 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Hurricane watches were issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.The system, which became a tropical storm on Wednesday, was over the central Atlantic and moving west at 14 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 60 m.p.h. at 2 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Hurricane watches were issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The storm is expected to move west to northwest and into the eastern Caribbean early next week.The storm is expected to move west to northwest and into the eastern Caribbean early next week.
Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said it was too early to speculate on the storm’s potential impact on the United States.Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said it was too early to speculate on the storm’s potential impact on the United States.
“It’s way too far out,” he said on Thursday. “Right now, our focus is on the Windward Islands.” The group of islands, including Saint Lucia and Grenada, are in the southern Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.“It’s way too far out,” he said on Thursday. “Right now, our focus is on the Windward Islands.” The group of islands, including Saint Lucia and Grenada, are in the southern Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.
Mr. Feltgen described Gonzalo as a “very small storm” with “tropical force winds extending only 35 miles from the center.”Mr. Feltgen described Gonzalo as a “very small storm” with “tropical force winds extending only 35 miles from the center.”
The National Hurricane Center was also monitoring an eighth system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. The tropical depression, which has maximum sustained winds of 35 m.p.h., was moving west and northwest at 7 m.p.h. toward Texas. The National Hurricane Center was also monitoring another system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, and it became Tropical Storm Hanna late Thursday. The storm, which has maximum sustained winds of 40 m.p.h., was moving west and northwest at 7 m.p.h. toward Texas.
“It will likely strengthen, but this will be slow to occur at first,” Levin Cowan, a meteorologist with the hurricane research division of the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, said on Twitter on Thursday. Hanna was expected to bring heavy rains to portions of Louisiana and South Texas this weekend.
The system was expected to bring heavy rains to portions of Louisiana and South Texas this weekend. If it reaches maximum sustained winds of 39 m.p.h., it will become tropical storm Hanna.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas urged residents “to remain vigilant and closely monitor weather conditions as a tropical disturbance in the Gulf is expected to impact parts of Texas this weekend.”Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas urged residents “to remain vigilant and closely monitor weather conditions as a tropical disturbance in the Gulf is expected to impact parts of Texas this weekend.”
In Corpus Christi on the Texas coast, city officials said they were clearing storm drains in preparation for rain and potential flooding.In Corpus Christi on the Texas coast, city officials said they were clearing storm drains in preparation for rain and potential flooding.
Gonzalo is the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The first tropical storm was Arthur, which formed off the coast of Florida in May, followed by Bertha, which made landfall near Charleston, S.C., later that month. The systems made 2020 the sixth year in a row that a storm developed before the official start of the season. Hanna is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The first tropical storm was Arthur, which formed off the coast of Florida in May, followed by Bertha, which made landfall near Charleston, S.C., later that month. The systems made 2020 the sixth year in a row that a storm developed before the official start of the season.
“It’s forecast to be an active season and so far, that is definitely hitting the mark,” Mr. Feltgen said.“It’s forecast to be an active season and so far, that is definitely hitting the mark,” Mr. Feltgen said.
Emergency managers this year have been wary of what might happen if a major hurricane strikes during the coronavirus pandemic. Evacuation orders often put people in close contact with one another in shelters, which would make maintaining social distancing and other safety measures against the virus difficult to maintain.Emergency managers this year have been wary of what might happen if a major hurricane strikes during the coronavirus pandemic. Evacuation orders often put people in close contact with one another in shelters, which would make maintaining social distancing and other safety measures against the virus difficult to maintain.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above normal Atlantic hurricane season, with as many as 19 named storms — of which six to 10 could become hurricanes. And three to six of those could develop into Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above normal Atlantic hurricane season, with as many as 19 named storms — of which six to 10 could become hurricanes. And three to six of those could develop into Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.
An average hurricane season usually produces 12 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes and three of those six developing into major hurricanes.An average hurricane season usually produces 12 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes and three of those six developing into major hurricanes.
Mr. Feltgen noted that Gonzalo is the earliest named “G” storm since the satellite era began in 1966. The previous record was Gert on July 24 during the busy 2005 hurricane season.Mr. Feltgen noted that Gonzalo is the earliest named “G” storm since the satellite era began in 1966. The previous record was Gert on July 24 during the busy 2005 hurricane season.
The peak of the hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October, Mr. Feltgen said.The peak of the hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October, Mr. Feltgen said.
A different storm, Hurricane Douglas, has rapidly gathered speed and power in the Pacific Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to hit the Hawaiian Islands late Saturday or early Sunday, Mr. Feltgen said.A different storm, Hurricane Douglas, has rapidly gathered speed and power in the Pacific Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to hit the Hawaiian Islands late Saturday or early Sunday, Mr. Feltgen said.
By Thursday evening, the storm, a Category 3 hurricane, was about 1,200 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, traveling toward the islands at 18 m.p.h., he said.By Thursday evening, the storm, a Category 3 hurricane, was about 1,200 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, traveling toward the islands at 18 m.p.h., he said.
The storm is “relatively small but relatively powerful,” he added, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds reaching about 90 miles from the center.The storm is “relatively small but relatively powerful,” he added, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds reaching about 90 miles from the center.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season, which runs from mid-May to late November, differs from the Atlantic’s. Whereas Gonzalo’s growing strength may suggest an early-skewing storm season in the Atlantic, Hurricane Douglas represents the fourth-latest start of the eastern Pacific season since reliable record-keeping began, according to NOAA.The eastern Pacific hurricane season, which runs from mid-May to late November, differs from the Atlantic’s. Whereas Gonzalo’s growing strength may suggest an early-skewing storm season in the Atlantic, Hurricane Douglas represents the fourth-latest start of the eastern Pacific season since reliable record-keeping began, according to NOAA.
NOAA anticipated that the 2020 eastern Pacific hurricane season would be normal or below average, which so far has been the case, Mr. Feltgen said.NOAA anticipated that the 2020 eastern Pacific hurricane season would be normal or below average, which so far has been the case, Mr. Feltgen said.
Mr. Feltgen said the storm would most likely weaken gradually beginning Friday and continue to do so through the weekend as it passes cooler water. Hurricane watches or warnings have not been issued for the Hawaiian Islands, but they may be issued on Friday.Mr. Feltgen said the storm would most likely weaken gradually beginning Friday and continue to do so through the weekend as it passes cooler water. Hurricane watches or warnings have not been issued for the Hawaiian Islands, but they may be issued on Friday.
“You’d be looking at significant impacts of both wind and water,” he said. “Right now it looks like the Hawaiian Islands are going to feel the impact of Douglas.”“You’d be looking at significant impacts of both wind and water,” he said. “Right now it looks like the Hawaiian Islands are going to feel the impact of Douglas.”
The first advisory for the storm was issued on Monday, when it was south of Baja California. The storm will cross into the central Pacific on Friday. A trek that long isn’t unusual for hurricanes, but it’s rare that the Hawaiian Islands are hit.The first advisory for the storm was issued on Monday, when it was south of Baja California. The storm will cross into the central Pacific on Friday. A trek that long isn’t unusual for hurricanes, but it’s rare that the Hawaiian Islands are hit.
“But in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if the season is above or below average if you get hit, and that appears what may be happening here with the Hawaiian Islands,” he said.“But in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if the season is above or below average if you get hit, and that appears what may be happening here with the Hawaiian Islands,” he said.