Tropical Storm Colin formed early Saturday morning just off the coast of South Carolina, becoming the third named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season and threatening to drench outdoor activities over the July 4 long weekend.
The storm, something of a surprise, formed hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall in Nicaragua.
Collin was expected to move slowly through the Carolinas over the weekend. At 5 a.m. ET Saturday, it had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and was located just inland over South Carolina.
Forecasters warned that tropical storm conditions are expected in South Carolina on Saturday morning and in North Carolina from Saturday morning into Sunday. Heavy rainfall was expected, with some areas receiving up to four inches of rain.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from South Santee River, South Carolina to Duck, North Carolina
It’s been a quiet few weeks for the Atlantic during the hurricane season after Tropical Storm Alex formed on June 5 and moved across South Florida shortly thereafter. Alex was the first named storm of what is expected to be an “above normal” hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If that prediction comes true, 2022 would be the seventh straight year with an above-normal season.
This year, meteorologists predict the season — which runs through Nov. 30 — will produce 14 to 21 named storms. Six to 10 of those are expected to become hurricanes, and up to six of those are expected to strengthen into major hurricanes, classified as Category 3 storms with winds of at least 111 mph
There were 21 named storms last year, after a record 30 in 2020. For the past two years, meteorologists have exhausted the list of names used to identify storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, an event that has only happened once before. in 2005
The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming clearer with each passing year. The data shows that hurricanes have become stronger globally over the past four decades. A warming planet can expect stronger hurricanes over time and a higher frequency of the most powerful storms—though the total number of storms may decrease because factors such as stronger wind shear may prevent more from forming. -light storms.
Hurricanes also become wetter due to more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists suggest that storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than they would have without human influence on the climate. Also, rising sea levels contribute to higher storm surges, the most destructive element of tropical cyclones.
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