Named tropical cyclones line up just at the same time in the Caribbean

(CNN) – If you think that tropical cyclones went from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye, you are correct. It’s almost like someone has flipped a switch.

We now have three systems to track in a week, after a hiatus that lasted over a month.

“This is certainly not unusual,” said Dennis Feltgen, public affairs official for the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

“Usually we see an outbreak in June followed by a bit of calm in July. Large amounts of Saharan dust were a factor. But now we are in the middle of August, when water temperatures have warmed in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and there is a parade of disturbances off the coast of Africa every three to four days, “Feltgen said.

As the parade lines up, Fred is first in line. A storm that has struggled to survive, Fred is trying to breathe new life in the ninth inning.

Now-Tropical Depression Fred made landfall across northwest Florida on Monday, bringing with it up to 12 inches of rain, gusts of wind, tornadoes and storm surge.

Fred will be quickly followed by now Tropical Storm Grace and the eighth tropical depression of the season as the tropics warm up, just before the peak of the hurricane season.

“The intensity of storms and where they travel depends on the environment around them,” Feltgen said. “A combination of competing oceanic and atmospheric conditions generally favors above-average activity during the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season, including the possible return of La Niña in the months to come.”

La Niña generally means a more active season for the Atlantic basin, with forecasters expecting a La Niña return this fall, if not sooner.

Another factor is the warm ocean water. “We are approaching the warmest water temperatures for the season, plus the northern Gulf of Mexico is two to three degrees above normal right now. Any storms in these warm waters can intensify quickly,” Myers said.

All of these factors point toward an active season. “We come from the record-breaking 2020 season, when nearly every mile of the US Gulf Coast and the US East Coast was under surveillance or warning at some point during that season,” Feltgen said.

With more than half of the 2021 hurricane season ahead, people are urged not to get complacent.

The Latest on Fred, Grace, and Tropical Depression # 8

Fred has gotten most of the tropical attention this week, but we can’t lose sight of Grace, who is hot on his heels and has the potential to be a stronger storm.

Most models predict that Grace will take a route further south, through the earthquake-ravaged island of Hispaniola, staying south of Cuba and crossing the Yucatan Peninsula.

Once Grace returns to the southern Gulf of Mexico, there could be additional strengthening.

Most models will carry this storm to South Texas or Mexico over the weekend.

“The evolution of Grace’s forecast track is having important implications for the future intensity of the cyclone,” the NHC said.

Grace could remain in southern Cuba, which could lead to further strengthening; However, uncertainty remains somewhat high about how strong Grace will be.

The third system to observe is tropical depression 8, which could be called Henri. This storm is expected to remain at sea.

Grace’s impact on cities devastated by the earthquake

Search and rescue efforts in Haiti are against the clock, as Tropical Depression Grace is criss-crossing the devastated region.

Conditions are deteriorating, with very heavy rains the main threat to Haiti.

Grace currently has winds of 55 km / h, with stronger gusts. The storm should begin to slowly strengthen Tuesday and possibly regain strength from the tropical storm.

“Over Haiti and the Dominican Republic, 12 to 25 centimeters of rain is expected with isolated highs of 38 centimeters in the southern terrain areas through Tuesday. These heavy rains can lead to flash floods and urban flooding and possible landslides. “said the NHC.

This could have a major impact on the search and rescue efforts underway in Haiti right now after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the region. Approximately 1,300 people have died and more than 5,700 were injured.

CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller contributed to this report.