Potential Tropical Cyclone Five has officially formed.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued its first advisory on what could potentially become the next named storm in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
As parts of Florida recover from damage from Hurricane Debby, which made landfall as a Category 1 storm at about 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, the hurricane center posted a tropical weather outlook for Potential Tropical Cyclone Five on Sunday, Aug. 11. The next named storm is Ernesto (see below for other hurricane season names).
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Here’s information on Potential Tropical Cyclone Five as of 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 (the graphic below will automatically update with each advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami):
Where is Potential Tropical Cyclone Five?
Tropical storm watches were issued for portions of the Leeward Islands, and the disturbance continues to move rapidly west-northwest.
Location: about 805 miles east-southeast of Antigua
Maximum sustained winds: 30 mph
Movement: west-northwest at 23 mph
Watches and warnings for Potential Tropical Cyclone Five
- A tropical storm watch has been issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The government of France has issued a tropical storm watch for St. Barthelemy.
- The government of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a tropical storm watch for the British Virgin Islands.
Summary of watches and warnings in effect, things to know
A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
- Guadeloupe
- St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda and Anguilla
- Saba and St. Eustatius
- St. Martin
- Sint Maarten
- British Virgin Islands
- U.S. Virgin Islands
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests elsewhere in the Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of Potential Tropical Cyclone Five. Additional watches could be required early Monday.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Five forecast track
At 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, the system was moving toward the west-northwest near 23 mph and this motion was expected to continue during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move across portions of the Leeward Islands on Tuesday and approach the U.S. and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast, and the system is expected to become a tropical storm by late Monday.
- Formation chance through 48 hours is high at 80 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days is high at 90 percent.
Hazards affecting land
Rainfall: Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 6 inches over the northern Leeward Islands. For Puerto Rico, 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 10 inches, is expected.
Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is expected to produce the following rain accumulations through Friday morning:
- Windward Islands: 1 to 2 inches
- Southern Leeward Islands: 2 to 4 inches
- Eastern Hispaniola: 2 to 4 inches
Wind: Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning Tuesday.
Surf: Swells generated by the system will likely begin to affect portions of the Leeward Islands beginning Monday night. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
What are the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season names?
According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, these are the list of names for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season:
- Alberto
- Beryl
- Chris
- Debby
- Ernesto
- Francine
- Gordon
- Helene
- Isaac
- Joyce
- Kirk
- Leslie
- Milton
- Nadine
- Oscar
- Patty
- Rafael
- Sara
- Tony
- Valerie
- William
If there are more than 21 named tropical cyclones during the Atlantic hurricane season, any additional storms will take names from an alternate list of names approved by the World Meteorological Organization. These are the supplemental hurricane names for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season:
- Adria
- Braylen
- Caridad
- Deshawn
- Emery
- Foster
- Gemma
- Heath
- Isla
- Jacobus
- Kenzie
- Lucio
- Makayla
- Nolan
- Orlanda
- Pax
- Ronin
- Sophie
- Tayshaun
- Viviana
- Will
Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida
