Latest news with #GreaterAntilles
E&E News
6 days ago
- Climate
- E&E News
Tropical Storm Erin expected to become major hurricane by Sunday
Tropical Storm Erin is likely to strengthen into the first major Atlantic hurricane of 2025, with potential wind and storm surge impacts for the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands before shifting to a more northward path toward the Atlantic coast, forecasters said Wednesday. Forecasters say the likelihood of a landfall on the U.S. East Coast remains low, but cautioned residents of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas and East Coast states to make sure preparation plans are in order. In its latest update, the National Hurricane Center said the storm 'continues to have a ragged overall appearance,' but expectations are for significant intensification by the end of the week, reaching hurricane status by Friday and major hurricane status by Sunday with winds between 111 and 129 miles per hour. Advertisement The storm is not expected to impact the northern Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of America.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Is Erin coming to Brevard? Storm expected to strengthen to hurricane as it shifts west
Tropical Storm Erin took a westward shift as it is expected to gain strength and become a hurricane by Aug. 14 or Aug. 15. The National Hurricane Service is predicting it could become a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph, by Aug. 17. Originally, the storm was on a path that would take it parallel to the coast, but it's since shifted a bit to the west. It's still too early to tell what direction it will take over the next week. However, forecasters are encouraging residents in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and northern Leeward Islands to closely monitor Erin, "There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts might occur in portions of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda next week," the National Hurricane Center said. Gov. Ron DeSantis also is monitoring the storm. "Models for Hurricane Erin currently have it turning north and staying far away from Florida,' DeSantis said. 'We continue to monitor for any shifts." Does Brevard need to prepare for Erin to hit as a hurricane? At the very least, Space Coast residents will likely experience rough surf and an increase in rip currents from Erin. 'Any stronger storm that occurs over the waters will be capable of gusty winds, lightning strikes, heavy downpours, and briefly higher seas,' according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Erin is the fifth named storm of the season and formed earlier than the historic average of Aug. 22. The average date for the first hurricane is Aug. 11, and the first major hurricane typically does not occur until Sept. 1, according to AccuWeather. Officials advise this is a good time to stock up on hurricane supplies to be prepared for an impending storms. Items to include in a hurricane supply kit include: Water, one gallon for each person per day Don't like or drink water? Don't buy it. Get what you like to drink but remember that without power, you should be able to drink it warm. Save money by filling pitchers with tap water. You do not need to buy bottled water. Non-perishable food Look for items such as canned fruit, vegetables, and meat; along with cereal, peanut butter, jerky, protein bars and crackers. Take stock of what you already have in your kitchen and put some in your emergency box if you can. Buying things on BOGO? Good for you; use one now and put the other in your kit. Don't forget a manual can opener. Two-week supply of medications If a state of emergency is declared, pharmacists may dispense up to a 30-day supply of maintenance medication for a chronic condition. Batteries From portable fans to flashlights, these will come in handy. Flashlight Much safer than candles. Cash, in case the power is out and ATMs are not working. A go-bag with essential supplies in case you need to leave quickly Portable cellphone chargers Battery-operated radio List of emergency phone numbers, including those for family members Copy of your insurance policy This doesn't technically go in a kit but be sure to keep your car's gas tank full. Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Erin. Where is it headed? Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Hurricane Erin previously impacted Brevard 30 years ago In 1995, a different Hurricane Erin made landfall near Vero Beach and brought significant wind and rain to the Space Coast. Evacuations were ordered for the barrier islands and the storm produced tornadoes and flooding rain across much of the county. At the time some residents took to boats to navigate flooded roadways. The Federal Emergency Management Agency-financed a project to improve stormwater strategy and prevent major flooding like that again. Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at Mspitzer@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Latest on Tropical Storm Erin's shift. Will it come to Brevard?
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Erin tracker: Forecast to strengthen into 1st Atlantic hurricane of 2025 this week, as latest projected path is updated
There is still great uncertainty around what impact Erin will have on the U.S. East Coast, NHC forecasters say. Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season in a few days, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. Erin formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday and continues to move westward. The NHC said there is still great uncertainty about what impacts it could have on the U.S. East Coast, the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas, but added that now is a good time to make sure preparedness plans are in place. Where is Tropical Storm Erin, and what is its path? As of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday: Erin was located 1,305 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. It is moving west at 17 mph. "This general motion is expected to continue into Thursday, with a west-northwestward motion beginning Thursday night and continuing into the weekend," the NHC said. "On the forecast track, the center of Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend." What are the chances it will intensify? The NHC's intensity forecast shows Tropical Storm Erin could become a hurricane "in a couple of days," according to the agency's Wednesday morning public advisory. "Gradual strengthening is forecast to begin today, and Erin will likely become a hurricane by late Thursday or early Friday," forecasters said. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when maximum sustained winds reach at least 74 mph. Hurricanes are rated on a scale ranging from Category 1 to Category 5, with 5 being the most severe. A storm is considered a major hurricane when it reaches Category 3 strength, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, according to the NHC. Watches and warnings in place As of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. "Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend," the NHC said. "These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather forecast office." How is hurricane season shaping up? The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through the end of November, has a 50% chance of being above normal. Last week, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration slightly updated the number of expected storms to 13-18 (estimated at 13-19 in May), five of which could become major hurricanes (with winds of more than 111 mph). A typical hurricane season averages 14 named storms. We're currently about halfway through this year's hurricane season, and there have been five so far: tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter and Erin.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Erin tracker: Forecast to strengthen into 1st Atlantic hurricane of 2025 this week, as latest projected path is updated
There is still great uncertainty around what impact Erin will have on the U.S. East Coast, NHC forecasters say. Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season in a few days, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. Erin formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday and continues to move westward. The NHC said there is still great uncertainty about what impacts it could have on the U.S. East Coast, the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas, but added that now is a good time to make sure preparedness plans are in place. Where is Tropical Storm Erin, and what is its path? As of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday: Erin was located 1,305 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. It is moving west at 17 mph. "This general motion is expected to continue into Thursday, with a west-northwestward motion beginning Thursday night and continuing into the weekend," the NHC said. "On the forecast track, the center of Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend." What are the chances it will intensify? The NHC's intensity forecast shows Tropical Storm Erin could become a hurricane "in a couple of days," according to the agency's Wednesday morning public advisory. "Gradual strengthening is forecast to begin today, and Erin will likely become a hurricane by late Thursday or early Friday," forecasters said. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when maximum sustained winds reach at least 74 mph. Hurricanes are rated on a scale ranging from Category 1 to Category 5, with 5 being the most severe. A storm is considered a major hurricane when it reaches Category 3 strength, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, according to the NHC. Watches and warnings in place As of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. "Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend," the NHC said. "These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather forecast office." How is hurricane season shaping up? The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through the end of November, has a 50% chance of being above normal. Last week, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration slightly updated the number of expected storms to 13-18 (estimated at 13-19 in May), five of which could become major hurricanes (with winds of more than 111 mph). A typical hurricane season averages 14 named storms. We're currently about halfway through this year's hurricane season, and there have been five so far: tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter and Erin.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Erin tracker: Forecast to strengthen into 1st Atlantic hurricane of 2025 by late Thursday
Still great uncertainty around what impact Erin will have on the U.S. East Coast, NHC forecasters say. Tropical Storm Erin is likely to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, and a major one at that, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. Erin formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday and is quickly moving westward. During the course of this week, it's expected to strengthen. The NHC said there is still great uncertainty about what might occur in parts of the U.S. East Coast, the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas next week, but added that now is a good time to make sure preparedness plans are in place. Where is Tropical Storm Erin, and what is its path? As of 5 p.m. ET Tuesday: Erin was located 950 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was quickly moving toward the west at 22 mph and is expected to continue through early Thursday. "A slightly slower westward motion is expected tonight through Thursday, with a west-northwestward motion beginning Thursday night and continuing into the weekend," the NHC said in a Tuesday evening update. What are the chances it will intensify? The NHC's intensity forecast shows Tropical Storm Erin could become a hurricane by late Thursday, according to the agency's Tuesday evening forecast discussion. "Continued strengthening is forecast after that time, and the NHC forecast continues to show Erin becoming a major hurricane by day 5 (early Sunday)," the NHC forecasts. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when maximum sustained winds reach at least 74 mph. Hurricanes are rated on a scale ranging from Category 1 to Category 5, with 5 being the most severe. A storm is considered a major hurricane when it reaches Category 3 strength, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Maximum sustained winds of 115 mph mean it would be considered a Category 3 major hurricane, according to the NHC. Watches and warnings in place As of 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. "Erin could move close enough to the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend to produce some impacts on those islands," the NHC said Tuesday. "However, the magnitude of those impacts is still not known, and interests there should continue to monitor the progress of this storm." How is hurricane season shaping up? The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through the end of November, has a 50% chance of being above normal. Last week, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration slightly updated the number of expected storms to 13 and 18 (estimated at 13 to 19 in May), five of which could become major hurricanes (with winds of more than 111 mph). A typical hurricane season averages 14 named storms. We're currently about halfway through this year's hurricane season and there have been five so far: tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter and Erin.
