Tropical storms Paulette and Rene weaken, but Rene set to strengthen, become hurricane
Forecasters are watching Tropical Storm Paulette and what has now weakened to Tropical Depression Rene and two other systems in the Atlantic Tuesday. Rene is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane later this week.
None of the systems are a threat to South Florida.
Here’s what to know:
▪ Tropical Storm Rene passed over the central and western Cabo Verde Islands Tuesday with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of the 5 p.m. update, the tropical storm warning was lifted on the islands.
By 11 p.m., the storm had weakened to a Depression with maximum sustained winds at 35 mph. Forecasters said that the storm’s ”features strongly suggest that Rene is poised to restrengthen soon.”
Rene was about 360 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands Tuesday night, off the coast of West Africa.
Forecasters said Rene will continue to move west to west-northwest for the next few days. The forecast shows Rene strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane as soon as Thursday.
▪ Tropical Storm Paulette was also weaker Tuesday evening, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The storm is about 1,185 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands in the Caribbean.
Paulette is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph and is expected to pick up the pace as it begins to move west-northwestward. It’s unclear how far west the storm will get before tilting north. Its tropical storm-force winds extend up to 105 miles from the center.
Forecasters aren’t sure what Paulette will do later this week after heading north.
“The spread in the guidance at that point is very high ranging from near dissipation to a category 2 hurricane. The NHC intensity forecast is mostly unchanged for now, but Paulette could certainly be much stronger or weaker over the weekend than currently forecast,” forecasters wrote.
▪ There is a low-pressure system about 450 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and it is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, according to the hurricane center.
Forecasters say the disturbance could see some gradual development in the next few days as it moves west to west-northwestward toward the Carolinas and Virginia area. Its chances of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours are 30 percent and 40 percent in the next five days.
▪ A tropical wave is also expected to emerge off the west coast of Africa Wednesday or Thursday and could see some development as it moves west across the Atlantic, according to the hurricane center. It might turn into a tropical depression later this week or during the weekend. It has a 20 percent chance of formation in the next two days and a 80 percent chance in the next five days.
The next two storm names are Sally and Teddy.
Miami Herald staff writer Carli Teproff contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 9:30 AM.
