Tropical Storm Bonnie forms in the Caribbean, new system forms north of Florida
While a new system forms north of Florida, Tropical Storm Bonnie took shape in the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The well-defined circulation center, which signals to the formation of a Tropical Storm, was identified by a hurricane hunter aircraft Friday morning, and is expected to make landfall in the next few hours near the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Scientists warn Bonnie may bring heavy rainfall to Nicaragua resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
Bonnie is located about 80 miles south-southeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph moving west at 17 mph, as of the 8 p.m. update. Bonnie’s tropical storm-force reach grew Friday afternoon outward to 125 miles from the system’s center.
The second named storm of the season had tropical-storm-like organization for most of the week, but couldn’t close its center of circulation while it was sprinting through the Caribbean often moving faster than 20 mph, the NHC said. After it slowed down, the system had time to thread the loop and close the circulation resulting in its tropical storm status.
Computer models show hurricane conditions are possible before the system arrives in Nicaragua. As a result, a Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border, and a Tropical Storm Watch from Limon, Costa Rica, northward to the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border.
Scientists speculate that if the system doesn’t develop into a proper storm during its Caribbean cruise, it may become a hurricane after cutting through Central America and entering the Pacific by next week.
Meanwhile meteorologists are also keeping their eyes on two other disturbances.
A new low pressure system formed Friday afternoon just north of Florida and off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, the NHC said. Development is speculated to be gradual as the system drifts slowly northeast along the U.S. Southeastern Coast.
“Regardless of development, this system is expected to produce heavy rains, which could cause flash flooding across portions of southeastern Georgia and the Carolinas through tonight and into Saturday,” the NHC said.
The system has a 10% chance of developing in the next two to five days.
Also, a tropical wave over the Windward Islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Significant development is no longer expected but the NHC gave the wave a 10% chance of becoming a depression in the next two days to five days as it passes the Windward Islands. It is then expected to move into the Caribbean, where conditions for growth don’t look great.
If either system develops, the next tropical storm’s name would be Colin.
The Gulf disturbance near Texas degenerated Friday morning into a surface trough while making landfall, according to satellite imagery. Heavy rain and flooding are possible over portions of the southern coast of Texas, but specialists don’t believe the system will move any further inland, the NHC said at 8 a.m.
The 2022 season runs from June 1-Nov. 30 is predicted to be another above-normal year for storms following the 30 named storms of 2020 and 21 of 2021.
