Tropical Cyclones Wilfred, Alpha & Beta

Few seasons on record will match the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Now that the annual list of tropical cyclone names has been exhausted, The National Hurricane Center will assign Greek alphabet names to the storms. Three new tropical cyclones formed in less than a day over the northeast Atlantic, east tropical Atlantic, and western Gulf of Mexico.

Major Hurricane Teddy Threatens Bermuda

Depression Twenty-Two formed on Thursday September 17 in the western Gulf of Mexico from an area with a low chance of organization. Twenty-Two strengthened to Tropical Storm Beta on Friday. The storm will hit Texas as a strong tropical storm or category 1 hurricane. Just before or shortly after landfall, Beta will weaken and meander along the coast to Louisiana as a tropical storm and later a depression.

Storm Surge, Hurricane, and Tropical Storm warnings and watches are in effect for the entire coast of Texas and parts of Louisiana. Beta is a slow-moving storm and will produce storm surge and heavy rain over a long period. Flash flooding, coastal flooding, and inland flooding are expected within the warning and watch areas. Texas and Louisiana coastal residents and businesses should hurry preparations and act on their hurricane preparedness plan.

Hurricane Preparedness Planning and Preparation

Tropical Storm Alpha formed near the Coast of Portugal on Friday and was forecast to move inland. Short-lived Alpha had some tropical characteristics but was mainly a sub-tropical system with tropical-storm-force winds. Alpha dissipated to a remnant low over Portugal less than 12 hours after it formed and the National Hurricane Center issued the last advisory on Alpha at 3:00 AM GMT, Saturday September 19.

Tropical Storm Wilfred formed out of an area of interest in the east tropical Atlantic that had a moderate 40 percent chance of development on Thursday the 17^th. Wind shear prevents the storm from intensifying as it moves west-northwest for the next 36 hours. Drier and more stable air ahead further prevents strengthening. Wilfred presently poses no threat to land and will probably dissipate by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The system that was once Hurricane Paulette has moved south of the Azores toward warmer ocean water. It may slow or stall as it reaches conditions favorable for development. Hurricane Paulette made a direct hit on Bermuda last week before moving north and then east. Now a post-tropical cyclone, Paulette has a 50 to 60 percent chance of reforming as a depression or tropical storm over the next five days.

Norwall Standby Generator Catalog

Meanwhile, a tropical wave is located off the coast of Africa near the Cape Verde islands. Although this system once had a small chance of organization, the National Hurricane Center no longer expects development for the foreseeable future and gives it a zero chance of development over the next five days.