Victor could push 2023 into the top three for Atlantic named storms
We're nearing the end of the alphabet on the list of names for the 2023 Atlantic season as we also approach the conclusion of it.
Forecasters are closely watching the southern Caribbean this week, with a system that is anticipated to see further development in what has been an extremely busy season in the Atlantic. If it becomes named, it will take on the name Victor as the next tropical disturbance in the basin.
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Later this week or weekend, Victor could become the 21st named storm of the year, putting 2023 into the top three for most designations on record in the Atlantic.
"We are in the midst of one of the busiest tropical seasons ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean," says Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
Along with warm waters, the system may take advantage of a decreased wind shear environment, which may fuel a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Victor.
If the system is able to materialize, impacts may include coastal flooding and damaging wind gusts across Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Haiti. From the southern Caribbean, it will likely track north, but as it does so, it will encounter higher wind shear and strong westerlies laying just north.
These ingredients diminish the strength of topical systems, and would do so to this disturbance rather quickly, as well as steer it out to sea, with no impacts the U.S. or Canada likely.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it has a 70 per cent chance of formation through the next seven days.
Regardless of development, this system has the potential to produce heavy rains over portions of the Caribbean coast of Central America and the Greater Antilles towards the latter portions of this week.
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, but it clearly still has plenty of life in it.
With files from Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
