The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

TROPICAL Storm Danny is expected to grow into a minimal hurricane on Friday but weaken and return to a tropical storm on Monday as it approaches the Bahamas, according to Senior Meteorological Officer Neil Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong told The Tribune it is still too early to say if the Bahamas will experience major effects but on the expected track the south east islands “may get some activity from the storm”.

At 6am on Thursday, Danny was about 1,200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and moving slowly westwards.

Danny follows named storms Ana, Bill and Claudette from earlier this summer. None of those reached hurricane status so Danny could become the first of the 2015 Atlantic season.

Mr Armstrong said top sustained winds are near 50mph and some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Danny could become a category one hurricane by Friday.

“On the expected track it could be in the vicinity of the Bahamas by early Tuesday after turning into a hurricane around 2pm on Friday. The islands most likely affected will be the south eastern Bahamas, which includes Turks and Caicos, Inagua, Mayaguana and Ragged Island,” Mr Armstrong said.

“It is expected to be at tropical storm strength as it nears us, but it is too early to say how it will affect us.”

According to Accuweather Meteorologist Evan Duffey, waters along Danny’s projected path are sufficiently warm to support further strengthening. “The most likely time for Danny to strengthen is prior to crossing into the Caribbean, since beyond this point wind shear may be too hostile,” Mr Duffey said.

“The exact track of the system beyond several days is questionable at this point. A general track to the west-northwest is most likely through this weekend, with Danny being guided along by the oval-shaped circulation of high pressure over the central Atlantic.”

AccuWeather is forecasting eight tropical storms, four hurricanes and one major hurricane for the 2015 season. 

Last week, The Tribune was told by international weather experts that if newly updated weather projections hold true, this year’s Atlantic hurricane season could be the least active since 1997.