Tropical Storm Fred forms in the Atlantic Ocean with Florida in forecast path

Fred will be the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, the chance of turbulence in a tropical storm is high 90% within 48 hours, and most of Florida stays in the system’s forecast system for five days. The National Hurricane Center confirmed that Storm Fred developed south of Puerto Rico late Tuesday, heading for the Dominican Republic and Haiti, where meteorologists warned that heavy rain could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides. , Fred became the sixth of the Atlantic hurricane season as forecast late Tuesday, and tropical storm warnings were already in effect for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. “The most important thing today is to be prepared,” said Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi. “I will not underestimate the potential impact of this event…We are expecting heavy rain.” Florida may be in the storm’s path, but forecasters said it’s too early to determine the exact path. Data from the aircraft and surface observations suggest that the turbulence gained some strength on Tuesday night, with maximum winds approaching 40 mph with higher gusts. Some additional reinforcements are expected overnight before Fred arrives in the eastern Dominican Republic on Wednesday morning, and Fred was the first named storm since Hurricane Elsa dissipated a month ago on July 9. The center said the disturbance was expected to pass near or over the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late Tuesday and dawn Wednesday, be near or above Hispaniola on Wednesday and be near the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. Heavy rain is likely to fall on the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, potentially causing urban and small-area flooding and potential mudslides. The biggest threat of flooding will be across eastern and southeastern parts of Puerto Rico, and tropical storms likely elsewhere along the northern coasts of the Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and the southeastern Bahamas starting Wednesday. Forecasters said it could intensify once it reaches waters south of Florida or the eastern Gulf of Mexico by the end of this week. But that path is subject to change depending on wind shear and whether the storm tracks over water or land. “The system is oriented west-northwest by circling a large area of ​​high pressure over the mid-Atlantic Ocean,” Accuweather hurricane expert Dan Kotlowsky said, “and Florida and the Keys may be in the system’s path.” This scenario could unfold if the high pressure area weakens and allows the system to shift further north, Kotlowsky said, and the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be active, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in an updated forecast last week: 15 to 21 storms could develop specific; Hurricanes may be from seven to ten hurricanes, and it results in an average of seven tornadoes and peaks in August, September and October. If forecasts are correct, this year will be the sixth consecutive record year of above-normal activity. Hurricane season is upon us during a pandemic: Here’s what you need to protect yourself. Tropical Storm Track Tracing Contributing: Doyle Rice and Janine Santucci. Associated Press