The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

HURRICANE Danny, the first hurricane this year in the Atlantic Ocean, strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on Friday afternoon, the United States’ National Hurricane Centre (NHC) reported.

Danny was placed 900 miles south east of the Leeward Islands and moving north west at 10mph, gaining a little strength as it moved across the Atlantic.

The maximum wind speeds had increased to near 115mph and the NHC said that while some additional strengthening is possible, Danny should start weakening on Saturday.

The system is currently on track to bring drenching rain to part of the northern Caribbean next week. However, there is the potential for the system to turn more to the northwest.

Forecasters say Danny will likely peak in intensity on Friday and early Saturday and is on course to sweep over the Antilles at the beginning of next week.

Despite developing early on Friday into a strong Category 2 storm and then growing further, micro-Hurricane Danny is very small, according to the NHC, with tropical-storm-force winds only extending out to a radius of about 60 miles. The average radius of tropical storm force winds for an Atlantic hurricane is 150 miles.

The forecast models have shifted Danny’s possible track slightly northwards, and the official forecast from the NHC falls on the southern end of what they are suggesting. In terms of intensity, models are in full agreement that Danny will peak on Friday, then weaken in the coming days. It is possible that in five days, Danny will have dissipated entirely.

The tiny storm is still surrounded by very dry and dusty air that has wafted out over the tropical Atlantic from the Sahara Desert. However, since Thursday morning, Danny has remained isolated from the harsh conditions.

The NHC said the storm currently poses no threat to land and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect, although those in the Leeward Islands should monitor its progress.

On Wednesday, Senior Meteorological Officer at the Bahamas Meteorological Office, Neil Armstrong, told The Tribune that on its expected track, Danny could be in the vicinity of the Bahamas by early Tuesday.

“The islands most likely affected will be the south eastern Bahamas, which includes 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.”

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

Danny follows Ana, Bill and Claudette from earlier this season. None of the first three storms reached hurricane status.

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.