2 NEW TROPICAL STORMS FORM IN LAST 6 HOURS; TD22 STILL IN GULF… The hyperactive 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues with 2 new tropical storms taking names in the last 6 hours. Tropical Storm Wilfred (the last alphabetical name on the 2020 naming list) formed in the central Atlantic Ocean about halfway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles. Once the alphabetical list is exhausted, we move on to the Greek Alphabet. This milestone happened at 12:30PM, as Subtropical Storm Alpha formed. Alpha is expected to be very short-lived. Landfall is imminent on the coast of Portugal in the next few hours. Tropical Depression 22, located in the western Gulf of Mexico, is expected to strengthen this evening to become Tropical Storm Beta. We advertised TD22 as “Wilfred-to-be,” but clearly the atmosphere had other ideas today in strengthening not one, but two other systems ahead of TD22. So, that means TD22 will likely be Tropical Storm BETA, the second Greek Alphabet name of the 2020 season.

WHERE TD22/BETA WILL BE MOVING IN DAYS AHEAD… Tropical Depression 22 is expected to strengthen to tropical storm status in the hours ahead. The storm won’t be moving very much at all in the days ahead. The official forecast from the National Hurricane Center calls for TD22 to become a hurricane on Sunday before meandering about 100 miles offshore from the Texas coast, east of Corpus Christi. From there, Beta is expected to weaken somewhat due to more environmental shear in the area with the potential for some land interaction near the Texas coast. Overall, this could be a hefty rain event for areas near Houston and Galveston in the days ahead.

LONG TERM FORECAST FOR TD22… There is better model agreement this morning that TD22 will likely meander in the western Gulf of Mexico before moving northeast next week. It is too early to say whether local impacts in south Alabama and northwest Florida will be possible, but we note that most of the major global models show the system either weakening entirely to our west or potentially moving over our area as a weakening tropical storm or tropical depression – at a QUICK speed. This likely won’t be a Sally repeat where the storm drops 15-20″ of rain. Good news!

TROPICAL STORM WILFRED IN CENTRAL ATLANTIC… A tropical wave in the central Atlantic Ocean strengthened late this morning to tropical storm status, taking the last name on the 2020 Atlantic tropical storm naming list: Wilfred. NHC keeps Wilfred at tropical storm status as the storm gradually moves over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean over the next few days. NHC calls for complete dissipation on Tuesday or Wednesday as the storm starts to encounter a more hostile upper-level environment. Wilfred likely won’t ever be an issue for the USA. At this point, no major hazards are expected for any land areas.

SUBTROPICAL STORM ALPHA FORMS NEAR PORTUGAL… Sometimes brief storms ramp up to tropical storm or subtropical storm status as they move toward Europe. If you recall in the 2005 hyperactive season, Hurricane Vince moved into Portugal. This is a similar situation, yet this storm is not as powerful as Vince. Subtropical Storm Alpha is nearing the coast of Portugal now. The storm is expected to cross the coast later today and gradually weaken. Maximum winds are near 50 mph. Alpha won’t ever be an issue for North America.

HURRICANE TEDDY LIKELY TO PASS JUST EAST OF BERMUDA… Hurricane Teddy remains a powerful, major hurricane this afternoon. Maximum winds are near 130 mph. Teddy is a large hurricane, expected to become even larger over the next 5 days. Tropical storm force winds may be possible in Bermuda as Teddy brushes by the island on Sunday into Monday. Teddy will continue moving north into the northern Atlantic Ocean. A Canadian landfall may happen along the Nova Scotia coast by Tuesday or Wednesday of the upcoming week. Teddy will then move north and east rapidly, becoming extratropical in the process. No direct local impacts are expected due to Teddy in Alabama or northwest Florida.

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I will have more updates later today on Tropical Depression 22 in the Gulf. More updates coming this afternoon in the RedZone Weather app.

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