Tropical Storm Fiona formed late Wednesday, making it the sixth named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.
The storm, which was about 600 miles east of the Leeward Islands as of Wednesday night, had maximum sustained winds of nearly 50 miles per hour, said John Kangiarosi, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center. A storm is named when wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour or more.
Fiona moved near the Leeward Islands on Friday night and was scheduled to move to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday. (meaning a tropical storm is possible within hours) was issued.
“The intensity predictions here are unreliable,” Kangiarosi said. “So if you’re anywhere in the Caribbean, keep an eye on Fiona and at least be prepared for a strong tropical storm.”
The Atlantic hurricane season ran from June to November and got off to a relatively quiet start. For the first time since 1997, there were no named storms in the Atlantic in August. However, storm activity began in his early September, and Daniel and Earl eventually became Hurricane, forming within a day of each other.
In early August, NOAA scientists released updated forecasts for the remainder of the season, which still called for higher than normal levels of activity. In it, they predicted 14 to 20 named storms could be seen in the season running through November 30, 6 to 10 of which could turn into hurricanes sustaining winds of at least 74 mph. Did.Hurricanes — Category 3 and above — Wind speeds of 111 mph and above
There were 21 named storms last year, following a record 30 in 2020. Over the past two years, meteorologists have exhausted the list of names used to identify storms during the Atlantic hurricane season. ,Year 2005.
The link between hurricanes and climate change has become clearer with each passing year. Data show that hurricanes have gotten stronger around the world over the last 40 years. On a warming planet, hurricanes are expected to intensify over time, increasing the incidence of the most powerful storms.
Hurricanes are also more humid due to more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere. Scientists suggest that storms like 2017’s Hurricane Harvey brought far more rain than would have been possible without human influence on the climate. Rising sea levels also contribute to an increase in storm surges, the most destructive component of tropical cyclones.
Eduardo Medina contributed to the report.