The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has set an amazing record: 29 storms in a season, breaking the previous record of 28 named storms set in 2005.  Monday night, Subtropical Storm Theta developed in the Atlantic.  Now forecasters are monitoring a strong tropical wave in the eastern Caribbean Sea which could become the 30th named storm of the season by this weekend.   Keep in mind, the average number of Atlantic named storms in a season is just 12.


RAMMB-CIRA/Colorado State University 11/10/2020 9:35 am CST

As of 4 pm CST, the center of Tropical Storm Eta was located by satellite and Cuban radar data about 90 miles north of the western tip of Cuba.  Eta was moving toward the north near 7 mph.  A motion toward the north or north-northeast is forecast through Wednesday night, followed by a turn toward the northeast on Thursday.  On the forecast track the center of Eta will move parallel to but offshore of the Florida west coast on Thursday and move near or over Apalachee Bay Thursday night and Friday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast through Thursday morning, and Eta could be near hurricane strength by Wednesday night or Thursday morning.  Gradual weakening is expected to begin Thursday afternoon or evening.

Subtropical Storm Theta transitioned to a tropical storm Tuesday afternoon.  As of 3 pm CST, the center of Tropical Storm Theta was located about 795 miles southwest of the Azores  Theta is moving toward the east-northeast near 14 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days.  Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts.  Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days. Some slow weakening is expected by later this week.

And finally, National Hurricane Center forecasters are monitoring a strong tropical wave located over the eastern Caribbean Sea.  This system is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.  The wave is expected to move westward into more conducive environmental conditions over the next several days, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this week or this weekend when the wave reaches the central or western Caribbean Sea.

NHC forecasters are giving this system a 70 percent chance for development over the next 5 days.

Bob