Hello, Dolly: Fourth Named Storm Of 2020 Hurricane Season

MIAMI, FL — Tropical Storm Dolly became the fourth named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season Tuesday, but weather officials do not believe the storm poses a threat to the United States.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm formed over the North Atlantic and was located about 370 miles south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 665 miles southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

Dolly had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts and was moving east-northeast as of 1 p.m. Tuesday at 13 mph.

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"A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected tonight an on Wednesday," the National Hurricane Center said in a special 1 p.m. ET. Tuesday advisory.

Weather officials said Dolly was expected to weaken over the next day or two into a post-tropical storm as it moves over colder waters.

"The low should then dissipate by early Thursday," according to the National Hurricane Center.

This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting with 70 percent certainty there will be 13 to 19 named storms with sustained winds of at least 39 mph (tropical storms). Of those, six to 10 are expected to become hurricanes with sustained winds of at least Category 1 strength, including three to six major hurricanes of Category 3 and higher with sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Researchers at the University of Colorado released a revised seasonal outlook earlier this month that predicted the season would likely be worse than expected with 19 named storms in 2020, including the four named storms that have already formed: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal and now Dolly.

Related:

• Cristobal Downgraded; May Still Produce Tropical Storm Winds
• 2020 Hurricane Season Brings Uncertainty, Sleepless Nights
• 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season List Of Names