Tropical systems are lined up across the Atlantic Ocean like a game of connect the dots. Hurricane Danielle leads the way, with Tropical Storm Earl behind. Another as-yet-unnamed weather system brings up the rear in its position just off the coast of Africa.
“Maintain vigilance,” Brian Seeley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Juan, said Thursday.
Earl’s track has shifted a bit closer to the Virgin Islands than it was Wednesday, and the territory is right at the edge of the “error cone.” However, Seeley expects Earl to pass at least 200 miles to the northeast of the territory on Monday.
As things now stand, Seeley said the territory could get some of the outer shower bands on Monday. He anticipated that the storm will be at least a Category 2 hurricane when it reaches the area.
As of 5 p.m., Earl is centered at 15.2 degrees north latitude and 38.8 degrees west longitude. This puts it 1,620 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands.
The wind speed stands at 45 mph, with gusts to 55 mph. It is moving west at 18 mph. The barometric pressure stands at 1003 millibars or 29.62 inches.
Tropical storm-force winds extend outwards 85 miles to the north of Earl’s center. Forecasters expect Earl to continue to strengthen as it makes its way across the Atlantic and become a hurricane by Saturday.
Hurricane Danielle is well north of the Virgin Islands, but is bringing swells to the territory. Seeley expects the seas to be rough for most of the time until Earl is through the area, though he said there should be a lull Sunday.
As of 5 p.m., Danielle is centered at 25.2 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees west longitude. This puts it 620 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.
The wind speed stands at 110 mph, with gusts to 130 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outwards 40 miles from Danielle’s center with tropical storm force winds extending out 175 miles.
It is moving northwest at 15 mph. The barometric pressure stands at 968 millibars or 28.57 inches.
The third weather system will be named Fiona if it develops, and Seeley said the chances are good.
“The water is warm and the sheer is pretty low,” he said.
Seeley stressed that the climatological height of hurricane season on Sept. 10 is fast approaching, so residents would be wise to have their hurricane plan and supplies in place.
