Persistent dry air has been breaking down Tropical Storm Dorian, the fourth named storm of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, The Washington Post reports, and the storm is expected to possibly hit Florida and western Cuba later next week.
"It is too early to say with confidence for next week where Dorian will track and what the strength will be," AccuWeather.com hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski told Reuters.
In addition to dry air, increased wind shears have broken down Dorian's defenses, and the storm isn't likely to escape these conditions for a few days. The storm intensified last night, but by 5 a.m. today, was going a mere 50 mph (down from 60 mph on Thursday), the same intensity it had this morning.
Satelitte images from today show that the storm's activity has become disorganized, displaced to the east of its surface circulation. The longer the storm stays weak, the more westward it will move, as low-level easterly trade winds will determine its motion as opposed to a stronger storm being governed by higher atmospheric winds.
The National Hurricane Center predicts that Tropical Storm Dorian will pass through northern Peurto Rico on Monday, Hispaniola on Tuesday, and the Bahamas or eastern Cuba on Wednesday. It will only affect Florida if it follows the northern envelope of this path, and as long-range models are passing further and further south, it is possible the storm may never reach Cuba and Florida.
According to Reuters, Dorian poses no immediate threat to the Gulf of Mexico. If it does hit near Florida, it will raise the possibility of bringing rains and winds to the southeastern U.S., although weather experts say its track remains uncertain as of now.
Authorities in Florida are concerned about rising water levels at the state's largest freshwater lake, Lake Okeechobee, and in preparation have already begun to drain some of the lake's water.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1, typically peaking between August and mid-October each year.
(National Hurricane Center)
