MIAMI — It took until September, but the Atlantic Ocean has its first hurricane of the 2022 season: Hurricane Danielle.
Hurricane Danielle is now a Category 1 storm swirling in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its estimated peak sustained winds in the storm’s center are at 75 mph with higher gusts.
The storm sits quite far north in an area of warmer-than-usual water but is no threat to land. Its closest reference point is about 885 miles west of the Azores.
Forecasts indicate it will continue strengthening over the weekend and reach a peak intensity of about 85 mph by Sunday morning as it drifts toward the northeast. The cyclone will eventually enter cooler waters and weaken early next week.
Tropical Storm Earl
Danielle is just one of two tropical cyclones the V.I. Free Press Weather Command Center is monitoring in the Atlantic basin.
Tropical Storm Earl formed Friday evening east of the Caribbean after days of battling hostile upper-level winds and dry air.
The cyclone has winds of around 40 mph. Tropical Storm Earl is not expected to strengthen much as it generally works off to the west and northwest.
Forecasters say there is even chance the system could degenerate over the next few days because an increase in hostile atmospheric conditions.
The cyclone is expected to stay north of the Caribbean Islands but could increase rains and swells through the weekend.
The system is not expected to be a threat the Southeast and is forecast to safely make a turn away from U.S. next week.
