- Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the fourth named storm of this year's hurricane season.
- As of 5 p.m. ET, Dolly is located 1,425 miles east of the Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and moving west at 24 mph.
Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the central Atlantic on Thursday, marking the fourth named storm of the 2023 hurricane season. The storm's name is purely coincidental and not related to the late country music icon Dolly Parton.1
As of 5 p.m. ET, Dolly was located about 1,425 miles east of the Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and moving west at 24 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has advised that while there are currently no coastal watches or warnings, residents in the Leeward Islands should monitor the storm's progress.2
The NHC forecasts little change in strength over the next 48 hours, predicting that Dolly may degenerate into a tropical wave before reaching the islands. Heavy rain is expected to begin affecting the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday, with potential flash flooding, particularly in higher-elevation areas. The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola could also experience heavy rain on Sunday and Monday.
The storm names for the Atlantic hurricane season are selected well in advance by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), ensuring names are short, easy to pronounce, and culturally appropriate. The 2023 season began on June 1 and runs until November 30, with forecasts predicting a below-normal season with seven to 13 total named storms expected, including two to six hurricanes.
“As of 5 p.m. ET, Dolly is about 1,425 miles east of the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, moving west at 24 mph. The storm's name has sparked curiosity, but officials confirm it is not a tribute to the singer.”
