The sixth tropical storm of the 2021 hurricane season formed in the Caribbean this week and is headed for the southeast coast near the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.
Tropical Storm Fred originated just off of Puerto Rico on Tuesday night, causing heavy rain and leaving thousands of residents without power, per power company LUMA Energy. With 45 mph maximum sustained winds, the storm moved west on Wednesday, landing in the Dominican Republic. It could hit the coastal U.S. as early as Saturday morning.
ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON 2021: HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Moving at a pace of 16 mph, Tropical Storm Fred could stay over Florida through early on Monday. While it is currently unclear how much damage the storm will cause, the risk of effects from wind and rain is increasing. The previous storm to hit Sunshine State, Tropical Storm Elsa, caused mass destruction in July, including power outages, flooding, and at least one death.
11 AM: Here is the latest on Tropical Storm Fred:
-It’s too soon to determine the exact timing, location, &
magnitude of any potential impacts for South FL.
-However, there is an increasing risk of wind & rainfall impacts along with deteriorating marine conditions.Stay aware. pic.twitter.com/4GTV2cq60b
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) August 11, 2021
On Wednesday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Florida residents to review their disaster plans.
“PTC #6 developed into Tropical Storm #Fred overnight,” he wrote on Twitter. “This is the sixth named storm of the season & could potentially impact Florida this weekend. While it’s too soon to determine exact impacts, Floridians should review their disaster plans & follow @FLSERT for updates.”
Tropical Storm Fred’s formation comes just under a week after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration increased the number of storms that it anticipates this season. These increases include a 70% chance of 15-21 tropical storms, with 7 to 10 of them potentially becoming hurricanes.
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Hurricane season in the lower Atlantic area lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the season peaking from mid-August to late October, according to the National Hurricane Center.
