Tropical Rain and Wind Event Headed to the East Coast

An increase in tropical activity in the Atlantic could spell trouble for the East Coast by the weekend. Here is a look at how what is happening in the tropics could impact millions of Americans in the days ahead.

Tropical Wind and Rainstorm Taking Aim at East Coast

Meteorologists are warning those on the East Coast to prepare for the possibility of a soggy weekend. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring a zone of potential tropical development off the southeastern coastline. The area between the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Southeast has been a region of high activity in recent months, largely due to the exceptionally warm ocean waters in this part of the basin. For example, Tropical Storm Chantal, Hurricane Humberto, and Hurricane Imelda all fed on these warm waters for their growth this season.

The latest long-range forecast models indicate that a tropical wind and rainstorm is likely to form across the Gulf Stream region off the Southeast on Friday or over the weekend. The warm ocean current in the Gulf Stream will fuel the further development of this system should it form. There is also still an outside chance that the rainstorm could intensify into a tropical depression or storm. The next two names up on the predetermined list of designations for the Atlantic basin are Jerry and Karen.