It’s official – the Atlantic Ocean has its first named storm since late June 2016. After a few days as Invest 97-L, a tropical storm named Earl was formally named on August 2, 2016, and he’s slowly moving west across the Caribbean.
At the moment, Earl is headed directly at the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, so there is limited threat of the storm impacting the United States directly. There is a chance that the extreme south of Texas will experience the storm indirectly through rip currents during the upcoming weekend.
In fact, current projections have Earl failing to reach the 74 mph (119 km/h) wind speed necessary for an upgrade to a Category 1 hurricane.
We will provide an update to Tropical Storm Earl later this week if the system’s direction shifts to a more northerly direction that could impact the Gulf Coast.
This is a great chance to ensure that your home and family are prepared in case a hurricane does decide to visit your area! Check out these articles for information, assistance, and important hurricane preparedness tips:
- Download the Direct Energy Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
- The Top 8 Hurricane Myths
- Understanding the Predictions for the 2016 Hurricane Season
- The Top Five Hurricane Preparedness Products to Have on Hand
- Preparing for a Hurricane: Before, During, and After the Storm
Stay safe out there, and in the event of any weather-related power outage, please contact your local utility company for help.
