2023’s first hurricane weakens to a tropical storm. There’s also a disturbance out there
Hurricane Don weakened into Tropical Storm Don after less than a day as the first hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Don remains in the middle of the Atlantic, well from land and any warnings.
Forecasters are still watching a disturbance in the eastern Tropical Atlantic that has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression over the next week that folks in the Lesser Antilles should watch.
Here are the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. Sunday advisory on Don and 2 p.m. advisory on the disturbance.
Where is the disturbance and where is it going?
The tropical wave is 850 miles east of the Windward Islands.
“Although environmental conditions are only forecast to be marginally conducive for some gradual development,” the Sunday afternoon advisory says, “this system could still become a tropical depression during the next few days while it moves westward across the tropical Atlantic and eastern Caribbean Sea.
The shower activity surrounding this system became a little less organized compared to Friday, according to the 2 p.m. Saturday advisory.
▪ Formation chance through 48 hours is at 30%.
▪ Formation chance through seven days is at 40%.
Will the wave affect Florida?
The disturbance is not a threat to Florida currently.
Where is Tropical Storm Don?
Tropical Storm Don was about 335 miles east-southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland.
Where is Don going?
Don was moving north-northeast at 17 mph. The storm is expected to turn east-northeast on Monday.
Will Don strengthen again?
Probably not.
Don weakened from 75 mph to 65 mph before Sunday morning and weakened again to 60 mph by the 5 p.m. advisory. Don will likely “lose tropical characteristics” Sunday night or Monday, the Sunday 5 p.m. advisory said.
Tropical storm level winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center.
Will it affect Florida, North Carolina or anywhere in the United States?
On the forecast track, Don remains over the open waters of the central Atlantic and is not expected to impact land.
What watches or warnings are in effect?
There are no watches or warnings.
When will we know more?
The next update will be at 11 p.m. Sunday.
This story was originally published July 22, 2023 at 9:03 AM.
