Forecasters out of names as Tropical Storm Wilfred forms
The hurricane season is officially out of names with the formation of Tropical Storm Wilfred in the eastern Atlantic earlier today (September 18).
Wilfred, located just over 600 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, poses no threat to land and is forecast to weaken over the Atlantic next week. is expected to weaken dissolve by early next week before approaching land.
It’s only
the second time in recorded history all the names in the World Meteorological
Organization’s list have been used up following. The first was in 2005, a season
which included Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma, storms so catastrophic that
the names were retired.
The National Hurricane Center does not use the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z as there aren’t enough names to fill those letters. Forecasters will now move to the Greek alphabet which is already being used with the formation of subtropical storm Alpha, the 22nd named storm of the season.
However, Alpha could become a hurricane as it moves slowly over the Gulf of Mexico, posing a threat to the Texas coast.
Another
system developing in the Gulf could become a Tropical Storm Beta soon.
Forecasters
are also monitoring Hurricane Teddy which is expected to bring heavy rain,
storm surges and strong winds to Bermuda this weekend.
With more
than two months left before the official November 30 end of the hurricane
season, some forecasters predict it is likely 2020 will surpass the 28 named
storms recorded in 2005.