Tropical Storm Dolly forms in Atlantic, forecast to weaken

MIAMI, Florida (KLTV) - Tropical Storm Dolly formed Thursday over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, far from land, and forecasters expect it to weaken quickly, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Storm details

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Dolly was centered near latitude 13.6 N, longitude 38.7 W, about 1,555 miles east of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, the hurricane center said.

Maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph, with higher gusts, and the storm was moving west near 24 mph.

The motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days, the center said.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center, according to the advisory.

Forecast

On the forecast track, Dolly should be near the Leeward Islands this weekend, the hurricane center’s advisory said.

Little change in strength is expected during the next 48 hours, and Dolly is forecast to degenerate into a tropical wave before it reaches the Leeward Islands.

The National Hurricane Center said environmental conditions were expected to begin weakening the storm on Friday.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but the hurricane center said interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor Dolly’s progress.

No connection to Dolly Parton

The storm and its name had no connection to Dolly Parton’s death Tuesday.

Storm systems are named according to procedures set by the World Meteorological Organization, and the lists of names are reused every six years. For the Atlantic region, the lists are alphabetical and alternate male and female names.

The hurricane center and other weather agencies name storms to communicate warnings and avoid confusion. The WMO says names are chosen to be short, easy to pronounce and familiar to the regions where they are used.

Rainfall risk

Heavy rain from the system could begin affecting the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday.

The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola could be affected Sunday and Monday, according to the hurricane center. The rain may produce flash flooding, especially in areas of higher terrain.

The hurricane center’s next complete advisory was scheduled for 3 p.m.

2026 Atlantic hurricane season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a below-average Atlantic hurricane season due to El Niño, predicting eight to 14 named storms, with three to six reaching hurricane strength and one to three of those intensifying into major hurricanes.