Capt Russell’s comments came as global weather outlets reported that Tropical Storm Gaston, which developed as the seventh named storm of the season on Monday night, is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday.
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A Wednesday Aug. 24 overnight flight of the NASA Global Hawk hurricane drone measured 75 miles per hour winds, thus, Hurricane Gaston became the third hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season. The center said in its update that environmental conditions are somewhat conducive for development over the next few days while it moves west-northwestward at 15 to 20 miles per hour. Gaston will likely turn toward the northwest and slow down in the next couple of days, posing no imminent threat to land. Six hours later the depression reached tropical storm status and was named Gaston.
During this weekend, Fiona or its leftover showers and thunderstorms could also wander southwest of Bermuda, AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said. Of more concern may be a wave approaching the Leeward Islands, which has a chance to become a tropical cyclone in the next day or two and could be aimed toward the Bahamas within a few days.
Late-August is heating up the tropical Atlantic. Environmental conditions will be more conducive for a storm to form later in the week as the disturbance moves toward Hispaniola and the southeastern/central Bahamas. Now a large but disorganized collection of thunderstorms.
The disturbance is bringing gusty winds and heavy rains that could result in flash floods and mud slides, regardless of tropical cyclone formation.
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Meanwhile in the Pacific, Kay is expected to become a remnant low later on Thursday.
