• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

New Tropical Cyclone Forms; Watches Issued

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - August 19, 2020

Latest official forecast track from the National Hurricane Center. Image: NHC
Latest official forecast track from the National Hurricane Center. Image: NHC





The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida has begun issuing advisories on the newest tropical cyclone in the Atlantic: Tropical Depression #13.  The government of the Netherlands has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Saba and St. Eustatius in response to the NHC forecast that this cyclone will strengthen into a Tropical Storm. When it becomes a Tropical Storm, it will be named “Laura” and will become the earliest “L” storm in the Atlantic basin on record, breaking the record set by “Luis” on August 29, 1995.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. The NHC warns that interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of this system, as tropical storm watches could be required for those areas on Thursday.

As of the 11pm ET advisory, the center of Tropical Depression Thirteen was located near latitude 14.6 North, longitude 47.9 West. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb or 29.77 inches.




Latest weather satellite view of Tropical Depression #13 from the GOES-East.  Image: NOAA
Latest weather satellite view of Tropical Depression #13 from the GOES-East. Image: NOAA

For now, the depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph. The NHC expects this general motion and speed to continue for the next few days. On the forecast track, the depression is expected to move near or north of the northern Leeward Islands by late Friday and near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday.

Beyond Saturday, it is possible this system could make direct impacts to the Bahamas, Cuba, and/or Florida. However, it is too early to say what those impacts will be or precisely where they’ll be. Residents in the path of this storm, including those in the southeastern United States, should make sure they have a Hurricane Action Plan in order before this storm arrives. 




For now, the depression is expected to produce 1-3″ inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 5″  through Friday night over the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by late Friday. Rough surf and rip currents will be possible around this system and those ocean conditions may last for many days.

A tropical cyclone is the generic term for a non-frontal synoptic scale low-pressure system over tropical or sub-tropical waters with organized thunderstorm activity and a definitive cyclonic surface wind circulation. In waters around the United States, tropical cyclones begin as tropical depressions. Once a tropical depression’s maximum sustained winds grow to 39 mph, the system is classified as a “tropical storm” and is given a name from the list of storm names the NHC uses each year. Once maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, the system is re-classified as a “hurricane.” If winds reach or exceed 110 mph, the system is known as a “major hurricane.”

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Severe Weather Threat Returns to Mississippi Valley on Friday
  • Deadline for SBA Aid for Kauai Drought Coming Soon
  • Another Atmospheric River Event Slams into West Coast; More Epic Rain, Snow Expected
  • Anniversary of 1964 Great Alaskan “Good Friday” Earthquake and Tsunami
  • Tornado Watches, Warnings Issued as Severe Weather Impacts Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, & Gerogia
  • After Violent Night, Storms Shift to Ohio and Pennsylvania
  • Preliminary NTSB Report Shows Something other than Turbulence Killed Passenger on New England Flight
  • SEVERE Geomagnetic Storm Alert Issued; Massive Aurora On Display in North America
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022