The possible tropical storm named Isaias, forming in the Atlantic by Wednesday, is expected to target Puerto Rico later in the week. The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm for the island.
What We Know:
- Tropical Storm Isaias is the ninth storm of 2020.
- Puerto Rico is still currently recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Thousands of homes were severely damaged so many residents will face the new hurricane season with blue tarps on their roofs.
- According to the Washington Post, administrators are expressing their worries of possible landslides, flooding, a spike in Coronavirus, and the day-to-day earthquakes Puerto Rico had earlier in the year.
- Isaias is currently being called “Tropical Cyclone Nine”. The reason this is being called “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine” is that the storm does not have a round center of circulation, advised CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. Instead, it is very elongated. “When a circular center finally forms, that is when it will be called a tropical storm.” Being called a “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine” permits countries to publish or circulate the proper warnings.
- “The system is expected to become a tropical storm when it is near the Leeward Islands on Wednesday,” says the National Hurricane Center (NHC). It will impact in Puerto Rico Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. There are warnings issued for Leeward, US Virgin Islands, along with other Caribbean Islands.
- According to the Hurricane Local Statement of Puerto Rico, Isaias is currently 380 miles southeast of San Juan PR or about 280 miles southeast of Saint Croix VI (15.3N 61.3W). The Storm Intensity is 45 mph and it has a West-Northwest, or 295 degrees, movement at 23 mph.
- The storm, at the minimum, is four days away from reaching the US mainland.
The Governor of Puerto Rico has stated in news conferences there over 300 shelters prepared across the island and for residents to stay calm.
