COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hanna became the earliest "H" named storm on record on Thursday evening and is expected to continue to strengthen until it makes landfall in Texas overnight on Saturday. The Hurricane Hunters will fly into the storm on Friday morning to find the storm's strongest winds.
As of 11 am on Friday, Hanna has winds of 45 mph with stronger gusts. The system was moving west-northwest at 9 mph and was located about 260 miles east of Corpus Christi, Texas.
A tropical storm warning has been issued from the Mouth of the Rio Grande to San Luis Pass, Texas. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area, generally within 36 hours.
In the central Atlantic, Gonzalo is expected to reach near hurricane strength as it approaches the southern Caribbean this weekend.
As of the Friday 11 am advisory, Gonzalo is weaker with winds of 50 mph with some stronger gusts. The storm was moving faster towards the west at 18 mph and was located about 485 miles east of the southern Windward Islands. The storm is expected to weaken in the Caribbean over the next 5 days due to dry air and wind shear.
Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are also under a hurricane watch. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible, generally within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, a tropical wave that is emerging off the coast of Africa has a 30% chance of development within the next 5 days. Some models bring the storm near where Gonzalo is currently located early next week. This disturbance is still far from the Caribbean, but will need to be watched carefully over the next few weeks. The 8th name on the list is Isaias.
NOAA expects 13 to 19 named storms, of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes, including 3 to 6 major hurricanes.
A major hurricane is a category 3, 4 or 5. These storms have winds of at least 111 mph.
On average, the Atlantic hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six becoming hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.