Hurricane Season 2010: Update August 29

So far this years Hurricane Season has produced an above average number of systems in the Atlantic. Things are have just began to fire up as we approach the peak of the Hurricane Season. So far there have been 7 Tropical Depressions in the Atlantic of which 5 have gain tropical storm status or better. A tropical storm is considered to be a low pressure system with a closed circulation down at the surface over warm tropical waters with wind speeds of 39 miles per hour or greater. Once wind speeds reach 74 miles per hour the storm is classified as a Category 1 Hurricane. So far this year there have been 3 Hurricanes, The first was Hurricane Alex which formed early in the season and made landfall in northern Mexico near the Texas boarder with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour as a strong Category 2 Hurricane. Hurricane Danielle formed on August 21st from a tropical wave off the African coast and quickly became the first major Hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane Season as a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 135 miles per hour; Danielle has produced some swells and rip currents for the east coast of the United States, the Hurricane is now well east of the island of Bermuda and the forecast calls for this system to continue its track away from the United Stated. The third Hurricane of the season is Hurricane Earl. Like Hurricane Danielle, Earl formed as a tropical wave off the African coast and is now churning the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The current forecast is driving this strengthening storm towards the eastern Caribbean islands. Tropical Storm and Hurricane advisories have been implemented for the northern leeward islands including the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. As of 5:00pm Hurricane Earl has sustained winds of 85 miles per hour and is moving to the west north west at 14 miles per hour. These locations are in the direct path of Hurricane Earl and will likely experience Hurricane conditions tonight and tomorrow. The Hurricane is centered just to the east of the lesser Antilles and will impact the region with Hurricane force winds, torrential rain and high storm surge. Furthermore, Hurricane Earl is forecast to pass dangerously close to the east coast of the United States this up coming weekend during the Labor Day holiday. It is still too early to pin point the exact path of the Hurricane. A frontal boundary is forecast to sweep through the eastern US, the forecast if for Hurricane Earl to be carried by this frontal boundary and make a turn to the north then eventually northeast tracking away from the eastern sea board. Nevertheless, if the storm veers to the west of the forecast track we would be talking about a potential for Hurricane conditions from the Carolina coast up to Cape Cod including Long Island, the Jersey Shore and the Delmarva Peninsula. If the storm stays away from the east coast major impacts will be significant beach erosion, large swells and dangerous rip currents. At this point the forecast is uncertain however we are only a few days away from Hurricane Earl's approach to the east coast.