Eleventh Named Storm Of Season Emerges In Eastern Atlantic

Good morning everyone. As promised, the National Hurricane Center has upgraded the depression in the Eastern Atlantic to the eleventh named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season. So far this season, eleven of the twelve depressions that have formed this season have become named storms.

As of the 5:00 AM EDT Advisory from the NHC, Tropical Storm Katia was located 535 miles to the West-Southwest of the Southernmost Cape Verde Islands, and moving to the West-Northwest at 17 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds have increased to minimal tropical storm strength at 40 miles per hour. Minimum central pressure has dropped slightly to 1006 millibars, or 29.71 inches of Hg.

Highest wind gusts are estimated to be at 50 miles per hour. Wind and pressure data is based on satellite interpretation since Hurricane Hunter aircraft are unable to get that far out into the Atlantic. The forecast discussion is indicating that Katia will become a hurricane within 42 hours, and actually be a major hurricane with 115 mile per hour winds in five days. By that time, the forecast track of the storm has it north of the Lesser Antilles.

However, it is too early to tell whether or not the storm will actually be there in five days, and even if it does, that doesn’t mean that it will affect the East Coast of the United States.