Storm Dorian and Tropical Storm Erin to HIT and cause weather CHAOS for US East Coast

The Atlantic hurricane season is intensifying as two tropical storms churn towards land. Tropical storm Dorian is forecast to soon become a hurricane and is heading for Puerto Rico, before being on course to hit Florida. Tropical Storm Erin will skirt past the East Coast, causing rain and strong winds for coastal communities, before making land in Nova Scotia.

As of the latest National Hurricane Center advisory at 5am AST (10am BST), Dorian was located approximately 85 miles south-east of St Croix.

The weather system was measured as having wind speeds of 60 mph with higher gusts and is expected to intensify throughout Wednesday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward from the centre up to 60 miles, and wind, rain and surf warnings are in place for some areas.

According to the NHC, tropical storm conditions are expected and hurricane conditions are possible in Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the US Virgin Islands Wednesday.

Read More: Tropical Storm Dorian – FCO issues Puerto Rico travel advice

Tropical storm conditions are also expected in the British Virgin Islands today, with a possibility of reaching areas of the Dominican Republic tonight and Thursday.

Rainfall up to 10 inches is forecast to hit the Florida Peninsula, Southern and Eastern Puerto Rico and the US and the British Virgin Islands.

The NHC warns this level of rainfall could cause life-threatening flash floods.

Surf swells are expected to increase on Wednesday across the US and the British Virgin Islands and along the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, and they could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Read More: Hurricane track: 85 percent of US hurricanes happen after August 15

For tropical storm Dorian there are advisories in place as it tracks ever closer to land.

Currently, hurricane watches are in effect for

  • Puerto Rico
  • Vieques
  • Culebra
  • U.s. Virgin Islands

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for

  • Puerto Rico
  • Vieques
  • Culebra
  • US Virgin Islands
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Samana

The two storms are not close to one another, but spaghetti maps from Cyclocane.com show tendrils of Dorian heading into Erin – potentially intensifying the second storm.

Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to strengthen, but as yet is not thought to reach hurricane status.

However, rough surf and rip currents will batter coastal communities from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to New England and Atlantic Canada.

Accuweather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said: ”Minor coastal flooding and/or beach erosion can occur as well.”

Tropical Storm Erin currently has wind speeds of 40mph, with maximum sustained winds of 45mph.

Spaghetti models show the storm lingering just off the east coats of the USA, with a path tracking towards Nova Scotia.

Tropical Storm Erin was located around 265 miles south-east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina as of the NHC’s 5am AST (10am BST) update.

source: express.co.uk