Weather

The historic 2020 hurricane season continues, as yet another tropical cyclone formed in the northwest Caribbean Saturday. Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight (TD28) is forecast to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico, possibly briefly becoming a hurricane before making yet another landfall across the north-central Gulf Coast next week.

An area of disturbed weather between Cuba and Jamaica has an increasing chance of developing into the season’s next tropical depression some time this weekend, increasing the flood risk across parts of South Florida.

Update 5PM AST Wednesday

Epsilon was upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday afternoon. This is the fourth major tropical cyclone (Cat. 3 - 5) of the 2020 hurricane season.

The center of Epsilon was located 340 miles east-southeast of Bermuda Wednesday evening with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115 mph. Forward speed has decreased over the last 24-hours with the storm tracking to the northwest at 10 mph.

Epsilon is expected to shift towards the north-northwest by Thursday and make its closest approach to Bermuda where a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect. The National Hurricane Center says that small fluctuations in intensity are possible Wednesday night and into Thursday morning with the storm gradually weakening beginning Thursday.

Epsilon is a large storm with hurricane-force winds extending outwards up to 25 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds spreading further, up to 450 miles. Gusty winds and hazardous coastal conditions are expected begining late Wednesday and through Thursday for parts of Bermuda. 

Update 11AM AST Wednesday

Epsilon is now a Category 1 hurricane and continuing to strengthen in the central Atlantic. The large system was located about 405 miles east-southeast of Bermuda as of Wednesday morning with maximum sustained wind speeds near 90 mph. Epsilon continues to pose no immediate threat to the United States but could bring some effects to the island of Bermuda beginning late Wednesday.

A slow west-northwestward track is expected Wednesday with a shift to the northwest anticipated overnight into Thursday, followed by a turn towards the north Thursday night. The center of Epsilon is forecast to make its closest approach to Bermuda Thursday afternoon while maintaining hurricane strength, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bermuda where conditions are expected to deteriorate beginning Wednesday night and through late Thursday. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected across Bermuda with these effects extending southward towards the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Leeward Islands. The National Hurricane Center says that these hazardous coastal conditions could occur along the east coast and through Atlantic Canada over the next few days as Epsilon continues to track northward. 

Update 11AM EDT Monday

Tropical Storm Epsilon has formed in the central Atlantic, 735 miles to the southeast of Bermuda. Epsilon is near stationary and will continue to be slow moving through Monday night. A slow west-northwest motion should begin on Tuesday which will contine through midweek. 

The National Hurricane Center is expecting the storm to be at or near hurricane strength as it approaches the island of Bermuda late this week. While it is too soon to determine Epsilon's track and intensity near the island, there is a risk for high winds, storm surge, and excessive rainfall. Interestes there should monitor the progression of Epsilon this week. 

This is the second time on record that the Greek alphabet letter has been used. The last time Epsilon was used was in the historic 2005 Hurricane Season where the storm formed over a month later on November 29. 

Minor coastal flooding is likely to continue for at least another day or two along Palmetto State beaches, primarily caused by a phenomenon known as the “spring tide”.

Hurricane conditions and life-threatening storm surge are expected later Friday into Friday night as Hurricane Delta approaches some of the same areas affected by Hurricane Laura in late August. It is expected to be a record-breaking 10th landfall of a named storm on the U.S. coastline.

Delta continues its march toward a record-setting 10th U.S. landfall of a named storm in one season. It is expected to bring life-threatening surge, heavy rain, strong winds, and high surf to the Gulf coast on Friday.

Storm Surge Warnings were issued ahead of Delta from High Island, TX to Ocean Springs, MS, where peak surges of 7 to 11 feet above normally dry ground were anticipated somewhere in the warning area. Hurricane Warnings are in effect from High Island, TX to Morgan City, LA.

Update as of 11:15 AM:

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from High Island, Texas to the Alabama/Florida state line, where dangerous storm surges are possible depending upon the exact track of the storm. The Hurricane Center said maximum surges of 7 to 11 feet were possible along portions of the Louisiana coast.

They said surges of 2 to 4 feet were possible as far east as the Alabama Gulf coast.

Update as of Noon Tuesday:

Delta strengthened into a category 4 hurricane with top sustained winds of 130 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast until the center reaches the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico early Wednesday.

Update as of 8 AM Tuesday:

12 hours after the National Hurricane Center classified Delta as a tropical storm, it was upgraded to hurricane status Monday evening. The hurricane continued to intensify overnight as it moves toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Update as of 11:05 AM Monday: 

Delta is becoming better defined in satellite imagery and is strengthening over the northwest Caribbean. It has top sustained winds of 45 mph, and is still forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday.

Newly-formed Tropical Storm Delta is likely to intensify rapidly as it approaches the Gulf of Mexico early this week. It is expected to threaten the north-central Gulf coast as a hurricane on Friday.

A strong early fall cold front is expected to sweep through South Carolina Tuesday, triggering a line of strong storms ahead of it and ushering in a much cooler air mass in its wake.

Tropical activity has been excessively active throughout August and September, but now a much- needed lull is expected for at least the next couple of weeks in the Atlantic as the final active month of hurricane season approaches.

A strong convectively-suppressed Kelvin wave, which causes sinking air and less thunderstorm genesis, is expected to pass through the tropical Atlantic over the next 10 to 14 days. This is expected to inhibit tropical cyclone development over the open Atlantic as the month of October approaches.

Widespread coastal flooding may cause road closures Monday and Tuesday before conditions begin improving toward the middle of the week.

Weather conditions are forecast to improve this weekend over most of the Palmetto State; however, coastal flooding and rip currents are forecast for residents and visitors along the coast.

Update as of 10:30 AM:

A Tornado Watch has been issued until 6 PM for the Central Savannah River Area, the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Grand Strand areas.

Original Story from 7:45 AM:

Torrential rain from what is now Tropical Depression Sally is spreading into the Palmetto State, where the threat of widespread flash flooding is expected to increase Thursday.

Hurricane Sally is expected to make a turn toward South Carolina and dump heavy rainfall over portions of the state on Thursday with an increasing risk of flash flooding.

As of early Wednesday morning, Sally is nearing landfall near the Alabama Gulf coast as a category 2 hurricane, with the eyewall extending into the western Florida Panhandle. Sally's winds are forecast to weaken as it moves farther inland Wednesday afternoon; however, torrential rain is expected to make it into South Carolina on Thursday.