Thursday, September 15, 2022
Tropical Storm Fiona, the season’s sixth named storm, formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday evening and forecasters at the US National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm warnings for several islands.
Tropical Storm Fiona was located about 650 miles (1,046 kilometers) east of the Leeward Islands, and tropical storm watches were issued for Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Anguilla, forecasters said.
Interests in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of this system, the agency said.
At 11 pm EDT, the depression was moving at 16 mph (26 kph) with maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph (85 kph), forecasters said.
On the forecast track, the center of the system is forecast to move through the Leeward Islands on Friday or Friday night and be near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend, the hurricane center advisory said.
Forecasters say dry air, Saharan dust and wind shear have been among the reasons there haven’t been more storms this year.
The lack of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic has been particularly noticeable considering recent hyperactive hurricane seasons with many impacts to the U.S. and Caribbean.
Even though the season overall may end up near average or even slightly below average, it only takes one storm to threaten lives and create a major disaster, according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter.
Earl and Hurricane Danielle, were the first named storms to form in the Atlantic since early July, when Tropical Storm Colin formed offshore of the Carolinas.
This year marked only the third time since 1961 when no named storms formed in August. The 2020 hurricane season set a record with 30 named systems, while 2021′s season was the third most active with 21 named systems.
An average year calls for 14 named storms. Hurricane season ends Nov. 30.
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