Weather Headlines – Thursday, July 25, 2013

Tropical Storm Dorian Stats

• 60 mph winds, stronger than last night, but no major strengthening in the near term
• Moving WNW at 17 mph, shifting to direct W in the next few days
• It’s early for a storm to form so close to Africa, but not unheard of

Dorian strength

• System is moving toward warmer water, which can help increase winds and intensity
• Drier air and some wind shear ahead, which would decrease the intensity
• There is high uncertainty about what kind of environment the system will face, so forecast is not definite
• The small size of the storm can mean quick intensifying or fast weakening

Dorian path

• High pressure over the Atlantic is keeping Dorian on its westerly path
• A weakness in this high pressure could steer Dorian more west north west
• US impacts are not easy to judge yet, because the system is so far out at sea

Central storms

Large hail and damaging wind possible across the central US