Tropical Storm Irma Forms As Harvey Batters Louisiana, Texas

TAMPA, FL — As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to batter Texas and Louisiana, a new system had made its way into the spotlight. Tropical Storm Irma officially formed in the east Atlantic Ocean by the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. Aug. 30 update. The ninth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane season is expected to develop more over the next few days as she makes her way west.

Irma was located about 420 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. The system was packing 50 mph winds as it moved west at 13 mph. At present, Irma poses no threats to land. The storm, however, is expected to reach hurricane status sometime over the next few days.

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Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Harvey was located about 30 miles north-northwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana, as of late Wednesday morning. The storm that made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Texas on Friday had lost much of its punch, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The system was moving north-northeast at 8 mph.

• See also: Hurricane Harvey: Curfew Implemented

Harvey has been blamed for at least 15 deaths since Friday. Some parts of Houston received more than 50 inches of rain, forcing thousands to evacuate.

Harvey and Irma both formed during the peak of the 2017 hurricane season. Forecasters call the period between mid-August and mid-October the “season within the season.” This eight-week period “is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity,” according to NOAA.

The peak period is historically responsible for major spikes in tropical weather activity, NOAA said. In fact, it accounts for roughly 78 percent of all tropical storm days on record. It is also the period when 87 percent of the category 1 and 2 hurricane days on record occurred. In addition, this period is responsible for “a whopping 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.”

The conditions gradually become less ripe for development in mid-October when increased wind shear tends to reappear and water and air temperatures cool.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. Average seasons produce about 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes. Three of the hurricanes are generally deemed major.

Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website.

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center