Activity in the tropics cools down as former Tropical Storm Colin fades; Bonnie makes history

Activity in the tropics has slowed back down after a busy week.

A tropical disturbance that was being monitored the past few days in the Caribbean Sea was no longer expected to develop, the National Hurricane Center said early Sunday.

The system that was Tropical Storm Colin dissipated near coastal North Carolina on Sunday. However, it has created the threat of rip currents and rough surf from North Carolina to southeastern Virginia over the July 4th holiday weekend.

Colin formed from a tropical disturbance that spun off Florida’s east coast on June 30, according to The Weather Channel.

Tropical Storm Bonnie, which originated in the Atlantic Ocean, emerged this weekend in the Pacific Ocean where it is forecast to gain strength.

“Bonnie has put an unusual stamp in the weather history books following its formation in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, passage through Central America and emergence into the East Pacific Ocean — all within the span of 24 hours,” AccuWeather reported.

Bonnie retained its name as a Pacific storm because it crossed from the Atlantic over to the Pacific intact. Hurricane Otto made the same journey in 2016. If Bonnie would have fallen apart on the journey, it would have been given a new name as a Pacific storm.

The Atlantic’s first named storm, Tropical Storm Alex, formed June 5. The next named storm to form in the Atlantic would be called Danielle.

No other tropical activity is expected within the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center. Still, it is expected to be an above-average hurricane season.

Colorado State University’s hurricane season outlook, released in early June, forecasted 20 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes.

Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.