The next potential tropical storm in the Atlantic, named Potential Tropical Cyclone Five, is gaining strength rapidly and is expected to become a named tropical storm by the end of Monday. If it reaches sustained winds of 74 mph or greater, it could become the third hurricane of the season. The storm is currently located 875 miles east-southeast of Antigua and is headed west-northwest towards the Caribbean islands, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. A tropical storm watch has been issued for several islands, warning of possible damaging winds, high surf, and up to 6 inches of rain. The storm is projected to reach these islands by early Tuesday afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center is warning residents of the Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to monitor the storm, as it could potentially strike them early Wednesday. The storm’s forecast track currently shows it turning northward into the Atlantic, avoiding a direct hit on the mainland U.S. The formation of this storm aligns with NOAA and Colorado State University’s predictions of an above-normal hurricane season due to warm sea surface temperatures providing ideal conditions for storm development. They anticipate an increased likelihood of major hurricane landfalls.
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