Chalk one more up for 2020. Not only are we running out of names for tropical storms in the Atlantic, but we’ve also just tied a record for the number of named storms in the Atlantic at once. Isn’t that just great? Looks like we’re about to move on to the Greek alphabet for names, which really just feels so much like 2020 it hurts.
Having too many tropical storms and hurricanes for the alphabet is just so 2020 it hurts. Click To TweetThe National Hurricane Center just noted that there are five named tropical cyclones over the Atlantic basin, which ties the record for the most at one time in that region since September 1971.
We are issuing advisories on five tropical cyclones over the Atlantic basin. This ties the record for the most number of tropical cyclones in that basin at one time, last set in Sept 1971. See https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB for the latest updates. #Paulette #Rene #Sally #Teddy #Vicky pic.twitter.com/K32RyJBqbo
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2020
The storms are Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, and Vicky.
Hurricane Sally (yes, now a hurricane) is the closest to shore at the moment.
1 PM CDT 9/14 #Sally Update: Hurricane #Sally continues meandering over the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or so before it makes landfall along the north-central Gulf Coast on Tue or Tue night. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/8oPmhptnIV
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2020
Here they all are. Congratulations 2020!
The last time we had this many named storms at once (five or more) was between September 11-14, 1971, NOLA.com reported.
For the 2nd time on record, the Atlantic has 5+ tropical cyclones (tropical depression (TD) or stronger) simultaneously: #Hurricane #Paulette, TD #Rene, Tropical Storm #Sally, Tropical Storm #Teddy and TD21. Other time was from September 11-14, 1971. pic.twitter.com/9ET1OoxE6f
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) September 14, 2020
Right now Sally is the biggest concern.
Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5…
5?
Yes, 5 active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin his morning.
Main concern for the U.S. is #Sally which is expected to bring storm surge and 12+ inches of rain from Eastern LA to the FL panhandle.https://t.co/1RsiXuC7Vj pic.twitter.com/HDzrOHuXaE
— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 14, 2020
CBS Miami shared the exciting news that there are two tropical waves being watched too, so we’re just about to move on to the Greek alphabet after one more named storm.
TRACKING SEVEN SYSTEMS – Tropical Storm Vicky has formed in the Atlantic which is the fifth named system currently being…
Posted by CBS Miami on Monday, September 14, 2020
The last storm in the group will be Wilfred, NOLA.com reported.
The first four letters in the Greek alphabet are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. The Greek alphabet was last used in 2005, so this isn’t a history-making record or anything, CBS Miami assured us. Not fun, but not 100% unprecedented. That year, we had 28 storms. Unfortunately, those storms include Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
I personally hope we just name the storms Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, because then I can think about their associated characters on The Walking Dead. But I don’t think that’s how it works.
If you want to track the storms, Windy.com is a good resource.
Google Crisis Maps is good too, especially for seeing their projected paths.
Check out my story here about tracking all sorts of natural disasters in real-time.
Happy 2020!
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