Two named storms among five Atlantic weather systems

20 August 2023

Five systems in Atlantic 20 Aug afternoon — Forecasters are monitoring five systems or disturbances in the Atlantic. - Image: Courtesy of US National Hurricane Center

For the latest information on storm activity in the Cayman Islands, as well as information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit Storm Centre.

Following a slow start to this year’s hurricane season, the Atlantic is becoming much more active, with the US National Hurricane Centre tracking five systems, including two named storms – Emily and Franklin – this weekend.

Currently, none of the systems pose a threat to Cayman, but Hazard Management Cayman Islands is advising residents to ensure they have storm preparedness plans in place as the hurricane season shows signs of increased activity.

The projected path of Tropical Storm Franklin, the seventh named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. – Image: Courtesy of US National Hurricane Center

The Cayman Islands National Weather Services said it was monitoring newly upgraded Tropical Storm Franklin, which at 4pm was located 270 miles south-southeast of the Dominican Republic, with wind speeds of 45 mph.

Tropical Storm Franklin is moving west-northwest at 14mph.

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The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, says Franklin is expected to approach Hispaniola late on Tuesday, and move across the island on Wednesday, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and high sea surges.

The National Hurricane Center is also issuing advisories for Tropical Storm Emily and Tropical Depression Six.

The projected path of Tropical Storm Emily. – Image: Courtesy of US National Hurricane Center

As of 1pm Cayman time Sunday, Tropical Storm Emily was moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 50mph. The storm is expected to weaken into a post-tropical remnant by Tuesday.

Further out at sea, 565 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, Tropical Depression Six was moving west-northwest at 9mph, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 35mph.

Meteorologists are also watching a disturbance in eastern tropical Atlantic, which involves a large area of disorganised showers and thunderstorm activity associated with a tropical wave centred southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands.

The National Hurricane Centre is forecasting that conditions are conducive to this disturbance developing later this week into a tropical depression that is likely to move west-northwest across the eastern Atlantic.

The fifth disturbance, which has formed north of Cayman in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to move westward as it develops, possibly into a tropical depression that may approach the western cost of the gulf by Tuesday.