ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Storm Fiona, the hurricane season’s sixth named storm, formed Wednesday night east of the Leeward Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.
In a special advisory issued shortly before 10 p.m. EDT, the NHC said that satellite data showed Tropical Depression 7 had strengthen to the point it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Fiona. It is not yet known if the tropical storm would have any impact to Florida or the mainland United States.
The storm was located about 645 miles east of the Leeward Island and moving west at 14 mph.
Earlier in the day Wednesday, when Fiona was still just a depression, the NHC said, “Interests in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of this system. Tropical storm watches will likely be required for portions of the Leeward Islands this evening or overnight.”
Currently, hurricane season is in the middle of the most active time for tropical activity, between mid-August and mid-October.
Prior to the season, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters predicted 2022 to be yet another above-average season in storm production coming off the heels of two record-breaking seasons for named storms. The NOAA doubled down on its forecast at the start of August. However, so far the season has been off to a sluggish pace in comparison to past seasons.
Typically, the eighth named storm emerges by or before Sept. 9 and the third hurricane by Sept. 7, but the season has thus produced five named storms and two hurricanes. The NOAA’s prediction call for a total of 14-21 named storms by the end of the season, Nov. 30.
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