Yet another tropical system could develop on Epsilon's heels
By
Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Oct 17, 2020 9:08 AM EST
Following a brief pause in the record-setting 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, the Tropical Atlantic has come back to life with the formation of Tropical Storm Epsilon.
A total of 26 systems have reached tropical storm strength or greater so far in the Atlantic Ocean this season, with the most recent storm now being Tropical Storm Epsilon. This season is rapidly closing in on the record of 28 named storms set in 2005. That year was also the only other year that the Greek alphabet had to be utilized.
The next system to reach tropical storm strength, or have maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or greater, would take on the name Zeta.
Well south and west of Epsilon, AccuWeather meteorologists are actively monitoring an area of the Caribbean Sea where a weather system called a gyre may form, and could spin up the next named system.
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"A gyre is a slowly spinning area of low pressure that generates areas of showers and thunderstorms. A gyre itself does not typically evolve into a tropical system, but disturbances that are drawn into the unsettled setup can develop into tropical depressions, tropical storms and even hurricanes," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
"An area of low pressure is expected to develop by the end of the week over the western portion of the Caribbean Sea," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said. "However, the likelihood of this low developing into a tropical depression or storm is lessening."
This lower risk of tropical development is due in part to stronger and more persistent wind shear over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Even if tropical development does not occur, forecasters say the slow-moving low is likely to generate days of tropical downpours and the risk for flash flooding. This includes the Yucatan Peninsula where Hurricane Delta struck just weeks ago.
"Locally heavy downpours will be possible through midweek across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba and Central America from this area of low pressure," Miller said.
Beyond this week, warm waters over much of the Atlantic basin and the Caribbean are likely to generate additional systems during November and even December. As a result, meteorologists believe there is a high chance that the season could tie or break the record number of tropical storms of 28 set in 2005.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Hurricane
Yet another tropical system could develop on Epsilon's heels
By Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Oct 17, 2020 9:08 AM EST
Following a brief pause in the record-setting 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, the Tropical Atlantic has come back to life with the formation of Tropical Storm Epsilon.
A total of 26 systems have reached tropical storm strength or greater so far in the Atlantic Ocean this season, with the most recent storm now being Tropical Storm Epsilon. This season is rapidly closing in on the record of 28 named storms set in 2005. That year was also the only other year that the Greek alphabet had to be utilized.
The next system to reach tropical storm strength, or have maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or greater, would take on the name Zeta.
Well south and west of Epsilon, AccuWeather meteorologists are actively monitoring an area of the Caribbean Sea where a weather system called a gyre may form, and could spin up the next named system.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"A gyre is a slowly spinning area of low pressure that generates areas of showers and thunderstorms. A gyre itself does not typically evolve into a tropical system, but disturbances that are drawn into the unsettled setup can develop into tropical depressions, tropical storms and even hurricanes," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
"An area of low pressure is expected to develop by the end of the week over the western portion of the Caribbean Sea," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said. "However, the likelihood of this low developing into a tropical depression or storm is lessening."
Related:
This lower risk of tropical development is due in part to stronger and more persistent wind shear over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Even if tropical development does not occur, forecasters say the slow-moving low is likely to generate days of tropical downpours and the risk for flash flooding. This includes the Yucatan Peninsula where Hurricane Delta struck just weeks ago.
"Locally heavy downpours will be possible through midweek across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba and Central America from this area of low pressure," Miller said.
Beyond this week, warm waters over much of the Atlantic basin and the Caribbean are likely to generate additional systems during November and even December. As a result, meteorologists believe there is a high chance that the season could tie or break the record number of tropical storms of 28 set in 2005.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo