Eighteen storms now named in 2020

When the forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, upgraded its 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook, it assessed how conditions were primed to fuel storm development in the Atlantic, leading to what could be an “extremely active” season.

At the time on August 6, nine storms had been named since the start of the season on June 1, and now there are double that number. Considering an average season produces 12 named storms, 2020 is proving to be extremely active. Here is the latest:

• Hurricane Paulette is taking aim at Bermuda, bringing a threat of serious flooding and damaging winds, according to the National Hurricane Center. On the forecast track, the center of Paulette will move near or over Bermuda early on September 14. Strengthening is forecast, and Paulette is expected to be a dangerous hurricane when it approaches Bermuda. Some further strengthening is possible when Paulette turns northeastward and moves away from Bermuda later that day. – Fox News

• Tropical Storm Sally could be a Category 2 hurricane when it reaches the United States near New Orleans early on September 15. Hurricane warnings have now been issued from Morgan City, Louisiana, east to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. Sally continues to strengthen across the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 60 mph. Storm surges of up to 7 to 11 feet are possible near the center of the storm and just east of where landfall is expected. Along with storm surge, extreme rainfall amounts of over a foot are expected in some locations between southeast Louisiana and the western Florida panhandle. – CNN