'Sandy' retired from hurricane list

The World Meteorological Organization has decided that no tropical storm or hurricane will ever be named "Sandy" again.

Storm names typically repeat every six years in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins, according to the Weather Channel.

But when a storm occurs that is particularly memorable for its cost of lives or property, the WHO retires the name.

"Sandy" becomes the 77th name to be officially retired from the Atlantic list since 1954.

Sandy did extensive damage last year in Cuba and Jamaica before slamming into the northeastern U.S.

"Sara" will replace "Sandy" in 2018.


For those for us gearing up for the 2013 season, here are the names for this season's storms:


Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dorian
Erin
Fernand
Gabrielle
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Nestor
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy

Two Atlantic systems pop up; Florioda unlikely to notice

Two small tropical systems have popped up on the map this week, fairly close to Florida, but neither storm is expected to have much of an effect on our weather.

Patty, sitting about 260 miles east of the Bahamas, has been nearly stationary since forming Thursday. It was downgraded Friday to a tropical depression and is expected to dissipate by Sunday.

The newer system, Tropical Storm Rafael, is about 125 miles west of Dominca with sustained winds of 40 mph. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for parts of the Caribbean including all the Virgin Islands, Barbuda, St, Kitts, Nevis, St. Maartin, St. Lucia and Puerto Rico. Rafael is moving north-northwest at about 12 mph. It's supposed to continue its northerly track, eventually heading over Bermuda and into the northern Atlantic.

Hurricane Michael becomes first Cat 3 in Atlantic

Hurricane Michael is maintaining its strength as a Category 3 storm, the first one of the Atlantic hurricane season. The hurricane is not an immediate threat to land.
 
Michael's maximum sustained winds increased to 115 mph (185 kph) early Thursday.

Michael is centered about 1,020 miles (1,645 kilometers) west-southwest of the Azores and is moving northeast near 7 mph (11 kph).

Meanwhile, Hurricane Leslie is drifting northward in the Atlantic and threatens Bermuda. Leslie's maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 kph).

Leslie is centered about 440 miles (705 kilometers) south-southeast of Bermuda and is moving north near 1 mph (2 kph).

Swells from Leslie have been affecting the U.S. East Coast, as well as Bermuda, the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Leslie becomes a hurricane in Atlantic

Leslie has strengthened into the sixth hurricane of the Atlantic season but still remains far from land.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said this afternoon that Leslie was 465 miles (750 kilometers) south-southeast of Bermuda. It had top sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was nearly stationary, moving north at just 2 mph (3 kph).

Current models show Leslie could speed up and pass over or near Bermuda in the coming days. Swells from Leslie have been affecting the U.S. East Coast, as well as Bermuda, the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Michael was gaining strength farther out to sea. It was over open waters and did not pose a threat to land.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/05/4186245/spawn-of-isaac-moves-into-the.html#storylink=cpy

Tropical Storm Michael forms in Atlantic, poses no threat to land

Tropical Storm Michael forms over eastern Atlantic but poses no threat to land, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Michael was located about 1,220 miles southwest of the Azores. With 40 mph winds, it was heading to the north-northwest at 5 mph.

Here's the latest forecast cone for Michael:

At 8 p.m.: Isaac is history; Hurricane Kirk, TS Leslie form

The National Hurricane Center notes that Isaac has been downgraded to a depression but continues to drench southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi with heavy rainfall, and a significant storm surge continues.

All coastal warnings have been discontinued. No more updates on Isaac will be released.

The 5 p.m. NOAA hurricane update put newly formed Tropical Storm Leslie on the map. It's about 1,000 miles east of the Windward Islands and may become a hurricane in the next day or two, but is not expected to reach the U.S.

The storm Kirk has been upgraded to a hurricane, and is located about 1,500 miles west-southwest of the Azores. It also appears to be no threat to the United States.

 The newly formed TS Leslie is located about 1,125 miles east of the Windward Islands.

5 a.m. EDT update, Isaac continues slog through Louisiana

Here's the 5 a.m. EDT forecast cone for Tropical Storm Isaac, via the National Hurricane Center: