Hurricane Danny Officially Forms in Atlantic

BY SHERRI LONON

Danny has officially become the first hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic season.

The National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm to a Category 1 hurricane as of its 11 a.m. update. By the 5 p.m. Thursday update, Danny had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.

The storm is currently centered about 1,000 miles east of the Windward Islands. It is moving toward the west-northwest around 10 mph. If it continues on its current path, the storm will be on top of Puerto Rico by Tuesday, forecasters project.

The National Weather Service is also monitoring two disturbances in the Atlantic. The first is a non-tropical low pressure system that is located southwest of Bermuda. Environmental conditions are such that forecasters anticipate “some subsequent tropical or subtropical development over the weekend while this disturbance moves slowly northward,” the weather service wrote Thursday morning.

That storm has a 60 percent chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next five days.

The third storm is “a tropical wave near the coast of west Africa (that) is producing some disorganized showers and thunderstorms,” the weather service said. “Environmental conditions are forecast to become marginally favorable for some development of this system by the weekend while the wave moves westward over the tropical Atlantic.”

Forecasters project the storm has a 30 percent chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next five days.

While the three storms pose no immediate threats to the United States, Long Island is expected to receive heavy rain with possible minor flooding as a cold front approaches late Thursday night into Friday. The heaviest precipitation is expected in Nassau County, where a hazardous weather outlook is in effect.

The brunt of the rain will fall after midnight on Friday, with the axis of the heaviest rain approaching the area between 3-6 a.m., the National Weather Service says.

The detailed forecast from the NWS:

• This Afternoon- A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a steady temperature around 83. Southeast wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Tonight- A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday- Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 81. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Friday Night- A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday- Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 6 mph.

Check out your local Patch’s homepage for an extended forecast for your neighborhood.

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center