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Travel + Leisure
16-07-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
Southwest to Add a New Route to This Caribbean Island Famous for Its Crystal-clear Waters
It just got easier to get a dose of vitamin sea. Southwest Airlines is launching new service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands next year, adding the Caribbean destination to its roster. The new flights to St. Thomas' Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) are expected to kick off in early 2026 and will mark the carrier's ninth island destination in the Atlantic Basin, according to the airline. However, the new flights are subject to government approvals and it was not immediately clear where Southwest would operate the flights from. 'We want to make Southwest Airlines the easy and obvious choice every time, and this is another meaningful step in our ongoing transformation,' Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement, adding the airline was "listening closely to what our Customers want." In addition to St. Thomas, the airline teased it planned to add two more new destinations, which it said would be announced this summer. The carrier did not offer any insights about where these destinations would be. For travelers who don't want to wait until 2026, they can book flights through several other airlines currently serving STT, including American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The St. Thomas airport is also a hub for inter-island and regional travel. Passengers can book flights to San Juan, St. Croix, and other destinations from there. The U.S. Virgin Islands continue to be a popular destination among air travelers and cruise passengers. More than 930,000 people traveled to the region by air in 2024, according to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, representing a 16.5 percent increase compared to 2023 and a new record high. The region is also a popular stop with cruisers, with Disney Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages all docking there. More than 1.7 million passengers disembarked and explored the region, according to the tourism department. "As a destination, we continue to explore, elevate, and improve, which further supports the ongoing goal to build upon our commitment to be a premier Caribbean destination," Joseph Boschulte, the commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, said in a statement.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical trouble in the Atlantic may brew into next week
AccuWeather tropical experts are monitoring two areas closely for tropical development in the Atlantic Basin heading into mid-July. In a setup similar to early July that led to the formation of Tropical Storm Chantal, a stalling front is expected to move towards the Southeast coast and into the warm waters of the Gulf which could be enough to generate tropical activity. Tropical Storm Chantal which formed late on Independence Day formed in response to a stalled front and a weak dip in the jet stream. Chantal would later make landfall early on July 6 and brought heavy rain and flooding to parts of the Carolinas. Locations in North Carolina, such as Chapel Hill, received almost a month's worth of rainfall in just one day. While the front is expected to be weak and the jet steam not as pronounced compared to the setup from earlier in the month, shear in the region is anticipated to be weaker. In turn, there is a low risk for tropical development from July 15-17. Regardless of development, an increase in showers and thunderstorms can occur from the Carolinas into Florida and along parts of the Gulf coast which can lead to localized flooding. Rough surf and rip currents can also occur. Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ AccuWeather tropical experts are also monitoring another low risk for tropical development north of Bermuda late this weekend into early next week. "The same slow-moving cold front has the potential to lead to development north of Bermuda," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "Sea-surface temperatures are cooler north of Bermuda and as a result anything that develops would likely be subtropical." Regardless of development, no impacts to land are expected. Elsewhere across the Atlantic, the window for tropical activity through the middle of July will be closed. Vast areas of dust from the Sahara Desert as well as disruptive winds will be the main factors inhibiting any additional areas of development. The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season has been off to a relatively fast start so far with three named storms. The historical average for formation of the third tropical storm is early August. Meanwhile, the average date for the first hurricane is Aug. 11. The next name on the list is Dexter. The average date for the fourth named storm is Aug. 15, meaning an additional storm would set this season a month ahead of average. AccuWeather Forecast Intern Julia Angerman contributed content to this article. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forecasters expect an active hurricane season, but history says otherwise
MIAMI - The 2025 hurricane season is off to a busy start in the eastern Pacific, with three tropical cyclones already having developed before a single named system has formed in the Atlantic, which could be an indicator of what lies ahead. Since reliable record-keeping on hurricane seasons began in the late 1960s, there have been less than two dozen years in which three or more named storms developed in the eastern Pacific before the Atlantic recorded its first. This occurrence happens about once every four years and can take place regardless of the status of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation or what is commonly referred to as the ENSO. In more than 84% of the seasons where three or more named storms formed in the eastern Pacific before the Atlantic, the Atlantic basin failed to end the year with more activity than its eastern Pacific counterpart. The only seasons where the Atlantic was able to overtake the Pacific was during a La Niña or a Modoki El Niño cycle – neither of which are in control of weather patterns in 2025. These years were 1998, 2004 and 2010, with only the latest occurrence flipping the script in any meaningful way. Notably, when the eastern Pacific has produced more than four named storms before the Atlantic has even managed one, the Atlantic basin has never gone on to surpass the Pacific in total activity during the season. 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook: Here's How Active This Year Could Be Without El Nino, La Nina Patterns Despite the historical precedent over nearly the last 60 years, forecasters at Colorado State University are betting against the odds this year. In the organization's latest outlook for the Atlantic basin, forecasters expect 17 named storms to form, with nine becoming hurricanes and four of those strengthening to major hurricane status – which would be a busier than an average season if the prediction turns out to be accurate. If the outlook holds true, 2025 would be in the running for being the only season with the world in a neutral status of the ENSO where the Atlantic overtakes the eastern Pacific in terms of activity. "The team bases its forecasts on a statistical model, as well as four models that simulate recent history and predictions of the state of the atmosphere during the coming hurricane season," CSU stated in its recent release. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross analyzed the latest outlook from CSU and had some words of caution for those wanting to edge the prediction into stone. "…there is more uncertainty than normal in these numbers because nothing is really pushing the season any which way. All these signals are very weak. When signals are weak, then if something is just teeter tottering, it can tip over, you know. So, we wouldn't be surprised to see this forecast be wrong," Norcross stated. Hurricane Season 2025: Here Are The Names For Storms You'll See This Season Pools of warmer and colder water temperatures across the Pacific and Atlantic will play a major role in shaping what unfolds across both basins during the next five months of the tropical cyclone season. Currently, a neutral signal - commonly referred to as "La Nada"- is in place, which can lead to wide variability in how active the season becomes, but it's the localized pockets of above- or below-normal sea surface temperatures that can make a difference. For instance, in the eastern Pacific, the warmest waters are located along the coasts of Central America and southern Mexico, which has supported the formation of Alvin, Barbara and Cosme, with Dalila and Erick waiting in the wings. These cyclones have not maintained strength for long due to a vast pool of cold water stretching from the Baja Peninsula to Hawaii and extending southward toward the equator. It's this combination of warm and cold pools that has led NOAA and other global agencies to declare that a neutral phase, known as a La Nada, is currently underway. If one of these anomalies gains dominance, either a La Niña or El Niño could emerge, but such a shift is not expected to occur until after the peak of the hurricane season has passed. In the Atlantic, several conflicting pockets of sea surface temperatures are at play - many of which are known to suppress cyclone activity. Forecasters are paying close attention to the Atlantic's Main Development Region, which has generally remained at or just below average, the extremely warm waters of the northern Atlantic and a small but impactful phenomenon called the Atlantic Niña, which tends to reduce sea temperatures near the African coast. As of now, none of these features appear to be producing favorable conditions for enhanced tropical cyclone formation, meaning if there is an error in the tropical seasonal forecasts, it likely leans toward overestimating storm activity versus underestimating. One area of notable concern lies in the exceptionally warm waters of the Gulf and the Caribbean. If a cyclone were to enter these regions, conditions would likely exist for rapid intensification and article source: Forecasters expect an active hurricane season, but history says otherwise
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Atlantic hurricane season begins
The Atlantic Basin hurricane season began June 1. The Atlantic Basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf and the Caribbean. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its forecast for the upcoming season, which runs through November 30. They are predicting 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 of which may become hurricanes. Forecasters are predicting a 60 percent chance of an above-average season. The development zones for tropical development are typically the Gulf, down into the Caribbean between the Yucatan and Cuba, and the Eastern seaboard. Here's a look at the names for the 2025 Atlantic Basin hurricane season: The prediction of an above-average season has to do with ENSO-neutral conditions expected, along with an enhancement in the West African monsoon. They're also expecting above-average sea-surface temperatures and weaker wind shear in the development zones. This helps aid in tropical cyclone development. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Atlantic hurricane season kicks off without named storm for fourth year in a row
For the fourth consecutive year, the Atlantic hurricane season kicks off without a named storm forming before June 1, and there are no immediate signs of formation. The Atlantic basin hurricane season spans 183 days, running from June through Nov. 30. Historically, the basin's first named storm tends to form around June 20, with an average season producing around 14 named systems. However, in years that are expected to be busier than usual, named storms generally need to form before their letter's climatological date, to meet seasonal projections. For example, if double the normal activity is expected, meteorologists typically look for the first storm to develop by June 10, followed by the second storm in early July. This year, seasonal outlooks from both Colorado State University and the NOAA are predicting a slightly above-average activity in the Atlantic, so to keep up with the expected pace, observers would expect 2025's first feature to form before the average June 20th date. 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook: Here's How Active This Year Could Be Without El Nino, La Nina Patterns The quiet start certainly raises questions about when the first named storm will form. The absence of early season activity is not unprecedented and has even been observed during some active years. In 2024, the Atlantic basin experienced a lull from mid-July into early August without a single named system, followed by another break from late August into mid-September - periods traditionally known for tropical cyclone formation. In 2022, a similar lack of development in July and August set modern records for inactivity. Despite forecasts calling for an extremely active season, no named storms developed for weeks, primarily due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, the eastern Pacific basin is already off to a different start in 2025. The region has already seen its first named storm, Alvin, and within the next couple of weeks, may see its second, Barbara. The National Hurricane Center has already highlighted an area to watch in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of Mexico, but again, formation chances exist more in the longer term than in the short term. Early tropical activity in the Pacific has little correlation with how the Atlantic season will unfold, but it can impact the basin. When tropical cyclones develop in the eastern Pacific, conditions in the Gulf and Caribbean tend to be on the more unfavorable side. Future cyclones such as "Barbara" and even "Cosome" might even steal some of the energy needed for development in the western parts of the basin, leaving the Atlantic quiet for now. Hints of development chances in the western Caribbean have been declining in the past few days as models become more bullish on Pacific Ocean development. No major weather model - other than the Global Forecast System (GFS) - shows a developing cyclone in the Atlantic basin in the short or medium term, with some tropical weather experts calling the GFS projections doubtful at best. Hurricane Season 2025: Here Are The Names For Storms You'll See This Season Since 2000, only three Atlantic seasons have started with their first named storm forming in July. While July starts may suggest slower years, exceptions do exist. In 2004, the first named storm did not appear until July 31, yet the season went on to produce 15 named cyclones. Most of that activity occurred during a five-week span from late summer into the early fall, highlighting how quickly conditions can shift. As the FOX Forecast Center continues to monitor the Atlantic, the focus will remain on what will be the catalyst that'll jump start the season and lead to the formation of article source: Atlantic hurricane season kicks off without named storm for fourth year in a row
