Weather experts at the US National Hurricane Centre have this afternoon upgraded an alert of a massive new tropical storm brewing in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
A public advisory warns the huge low pressure area has a high chance of forming into a tropical cyclone within the next two days – if it does become a storm it will be called Katia.
It is currently located about 400 miles off the Cape Verde islands and is initially creeping westwards at a rate of 10 to 15mph.
There are currently two other alerts across the Atlantic, including Tropical Storm Jose although neither are expected to pose a danger and make landfall.
Accurate modelling is not yet available for the massive new low pressure system although the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said it is expecting an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this year.
The outlook calls for 14 to 19 named storms, with seven to ten becoming hurricanes and three to five expected to become a major hurricane (category 3 or higher).
At 2pm EDT today, the centre of Hurricane Irene was passing over southern New England and is expected to be downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone by tonight.
The storm is expected to head north east and will continue through Canada as it peels off back across the Atlantic towards Iceland.
Post a comment