Riviera Maya, Q.R. — More than three weeks into the official start of hurricane season, the Atlantic Basin has its first named storm. Tropical Storm Andrea was named early Tuesday after intensifying from a disturbance in the open Atlantic.
Initially the Sunday disturbance was given a 20 percent chance of further development, however, that changed overnight when the disturbance was given an increased 70 percent chance Monday of intensifying into a storm.
The NOAA named disturbance AL90 Tropical Storm Andrea Tuesday morning. Andrea was named approximately 2,011 kilometers (1,205 miles) west of The Azores. Andrea is reported traveling east-northeast at 27 km/h (17 mph) with 64 km/s (40 mph) winds.
Andrea developed after, according to the National Hurricane Centre, satellite images indicated that shower and thunderstorm activity became better organized in association with a small gale-force low-pressure system located about 900 miles east-northeast of Bermuda.
This system will likely become a short-lived tropical storm later today before more hostile environmental conditions end its opportunity for development by this evening. The low is forecast to move northeastward while remaining over the open central Atlantic. There are no weather warnings issued with the development of Tropical Storm Andrea.
“At 11:00 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Andrea was located near latitude 36.6 North, longitude 48.9 West. Andrea is moving toward the east-northeast near 17 mph (28 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next day or so.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected today. Weakening is expected to begin tonight, with Andrea dissipating by Wednesday night.
“Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1014 mb (29.95 inches). Hazards affecting land are none,” the NOAA reported Tuesday.
