Expected to be quite short-lived, Tropical Storm Arlene has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 425 kilometers west of Fort Meyers, Florida.
This marks the 4th consecutive June that had an Atlantic named form formation. In the satellite ear, since 1966, nearly 55% of Junes have had at least one Atlantic-named storm formation.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Tropical Depression Two to tropical storm status as data from Air Force Hurricane Hunters found surface winds of 35 knots (65 KM/H). However, the NHC notes that Arlene is forecast to weaken soon due to increasing wind shear and dry air.
This system poses no threat to Trinidad, Tobago, and the Eastern Caribbean region.
The Latest
According to the National Hurricane Center, at 1:00 PM CDT (2:00 PM AST), the center of Tropical Storm Arlene was located near latitude 26.7 North, longitude 86.2 West. Arlene is moving toward the south near 7 KM/H and this motion is expected to increase slightly through tonight.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 KM/H with higher gusts. Arlene is expected to weaken by tonight, and it is forecast to degenerate into a remnant low on Saturday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 110 kilometers northeast of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure based on data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters is 1002 millibars.
While there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the NHC notes that rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches (25 to 50 millimeters) with localized higher amounts up to 5 inches (125 millimeters) are possible through Saturday across portions of the central and southern Florida Peninsula. However, this rainfall is not directly related to Tropical Storm Arlene. Regardless, this rainfall could lead to isolated flash, urban, and small stream flooding impacts across Florida.
First named, but second storm of the year
Earlier this year, in mid-January, the National Hurricane Center determined that a subtropical storm developed off the United States’ east coast. While this system was not named, it was the first tropical cyclone for 2023 in the Atlantic and took the name Subtropical Storm One.
As a result, Tropical Depression Two was upgraded to Tropical Storm Arlene.
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