As the East Coast continues to recover from Hurricane Debby, a potential tropical storm named Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is developing in the Atlantic. It is currently located 875 miles east-southeast of Antigua and is expected to become a named tropical storm by the end of Monday, potentially becoming the third hurricane of the season. The storm is moving west-northwest at a rapid pace and could bring damaging winds, high surf, and heavy rainfall to multiple Caribbean islands including the U.S. Virgin Islands. A 48-hour tropical storm watch has been issued for several islands in the region, with warnings to the Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to monitor the storm for potential impacts by early Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center and Colorado State University both predict an above-normal number of storms for the Atlantic hurricane season, citing extremely warm sea surface temperatures that provide ideal conditions for storm formation and intensification. The potential cyclone is expected to track into the Caribbean region before turning northward into the Atlantic, avoiding a direct impact on the mainland U.S. However, there is a possibility of major hurricane landfalls in the coming months. Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay informed and prepared for potential impacts from the developing storm.
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