Tropical Storm Fiona May Strengthen Slightly; 2 Disturbances Form, Forecasters Say

TAMPA BAY, FL — Just in time for the traditional peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, forecasters are tracking a tropical storm and two disturbances.

As of Thursday afternoon, Tropical Storm Fiona was located around 950 nautical miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. The sixth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Fiona was moving west-northwest at 8 mph, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center wrote in their Thursday afternoon Tropical Weather Outlook report.

On its current path, Tropical Storm Fiona is anticipated to be located southeast of Bermuda by Tuesday morning. The storm is not currently forecast to gain enough strength by Tuesday to reach hurricane status, but some gradual strengthening is possible.

Whether Tropical Storm Fiona will pose a threat for Florida or any portion of the Eastern Seaboard remains to be seen. In the meantime, the hurricane center is also keeping a close watch on two disturbances. The first is a tropical wave that was located about 300 miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands as of 2 p.m. Thursday. The wave is producing widespread cloudiness and shower activity, forecasters wrote.

“Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development of this disturbance over the next several days,” forecasters wrote. The storm has been given a 20 percent chance of further formation over the next five days. As of Thursday afternoon, it was moving westward at 15 mph.

The second disturbance under watch is a tropical wave that is expected to move off Africa’s coast on Saturday. The storm is expected to move “westward through a marginally favorable environment,” forecasters wrote. The disturbance has also been given a 20 percent chance of further development over the next five days.

Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. The traditional peak is mid-August to late October, according to the hurricane center.

The appearance of the three storms comes on the heels of revised predictions for the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Forecasters at NOAA say there’s a 70 percent chance of 12 to 17 named storms forming this year with two to four major hurricanes possible this season.

The initial outlook called for 10 to 16 named storms, four to eight hurricanes, and one to four major hurricanes. The seasonal averages are 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

As the season continues, emergency planners urge residents in coastal areas to be prepared for whatever the weather dishes out.

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation, read these related Patch stories:

• Hurricane Season 2016: Where To Find Local Information
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Released
• Hurricane Season: How to Prepare
• 2016 Hurricane Names: Is Yours On the List?
• Tampa Bay 'Ripe for Disaster,' Hurricane Experts Say

To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.

Images courtesy of the National Hurricane Center