Tropical Storm Dexter limps out to sea as more systems try to form
Folks along or near the coast should start paying attention to the tropics as forecasters monitor several areas for potential development over the next week.
Tropical Storm Dexter formed between North Carolina and Bermuda on Sunday night. This system is what meteorologists sometimes nickname a “fish storm” because it’ll stay out to sea and away from land. Dexter remains weak and it’ll likely lose its tropical characteristics in the next day or so as it moves northeast through the open Atlantic.
The National Hurricane Center highlighted two additional areas for potential development over the next five to seven days—one off the southeastern U.S., and another far out in the central Atlantic.
A low-pressure system is likely to form offshore from the southeastern states later this week. Conditions may be favorable for this system to develop tropical characteristics, and its proximity to the coast will require special attention for any potential impacts from rain, wind, storm surge, or rip currents.
Another disturbance in the eastern Atlantic could slowly develop as it heads toward the center of the basin through next weekend. Forecasters give this feature a 50 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression.
While it’s far too early to talk about potential intensity, we’ll have to watch the strength of high pressure over the northern Atlantic for signs about its future track. A weaker high is more favorable for a recurve out to sea, while a stronger high could allow the system to push west toward land.
Season is progressing a little ahead of average pace
Despite narratives like “sluggish start” and “quiet so far,” this year’s Atlantic hurricane season is actually tracking a step ahead of normal compared to the progress of an average season in the basin.
So far this year, we’ve seen Andrea (June 24), Barry (June 28), Chantal (July 4), and Dexter (August 3). We’re about a week and a half ahead of the pace of an average Atlantic hurricane season, and we’ll jump even farther ahead if one or both of those disturbances organizes into a tropical storm.
All that is to say—don’t fall into a false sense of security because it feels quieter than the busy seasons we’ve seen in the past few years. It only takes one storm making landfall to turn even the slowest season into a major ordeal.
What’s in a name?
This is the first time we’ve used Dexter as a storm name in the Atlantic basin. The World Meteorological Organization picked Dexter as the replacement for Dorian after that name was retired following the 2019 hurricane season.
If you’re curious (of course you are!), I have a whole page devoted to hurricane name history and statistics at my other website.
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