Tropical Storm “Ophelia” to become a hurricane as it heads toward Azores
Tropical Storm "Ophelia" formed west-southwest of the Azores islands around 09:00 UTC on October 9, 2017 as the 15th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm is now getting better organized and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, 10th of the season, on October 12 as it heads toward the Azores.
As of 15:00 UTC (11:00 AST) on October 10, the center of Tropical Storm "Ophelia" was located about 1 260 km (780 miles) WSW of the Azores. It had maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h (50 mph), minimum estimated central pressure of 1 002 hPa and was moving SE at 7 km/h (5 mph). This general motion is expected to continue over the next day or two.
Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Ophelia is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 110 km (70 miles) from the center.
There are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Here's how 2017 Atlantic #hurricane season stands up thru 10/9 w/ previous full seasons. Already top 10 for major hurricanes, MHD & ACE. pic.twitter.com/bakojPRQrj
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 9, 2017
According to Dr. Philip Klotzbach, Ophelia's formation longitude of 39.9°W is the farthest east formation longitude for an October Atlantic named storm since Grace of 2009.
NOAA GOES-East image of North Atlantic at 17:45 UTC on October 10, 2017. Credit: UW-CIMSS
Featured image: Tropical Storm "Ophelia" at 18:00 UTC on October 10, 2017. Credit: UW-CIMSS
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