Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Katia, all at once on 9/6/17

Hurricane Irma is a category 5. It remains on a west-northwest path that is impacting Puerto Rico. The forecast cone is a straight line that could put it near or over the Bahamas and Cuba this weekend. While it is possible Irma may get into the Gulf. Most computer projections show a trough of low pressure arriving from the northwest this weekend to turn Irma toward the north. That means all of south and central Florida is a likely target.

Jose is now a hurricane- the 5th of the Atlantic season. It is east of Irma in open waters. It will strengthen and may also impact the northeastern islands of the Caribbean, before turning northward in the Atlantic and meandering for several days.

In the southwestern Gulf is Hurricane Katia- the 6th hurricane of the season. It will drift a little eastward and strengthen a bit more before turning southwestward to move into Mexico.

There have been 3 named storms at the same time in the Atlantic. In 2010, there were 3 hurricanes there in September. In 1998, there were 3 hurricanes and a tropical storm at the same time. The state of the atmosphere can change drastically by then so we watch daily to see what clues models are giving us. That’s why you always have to have a plan, in hurricane season, which runs through November.

Chief Meteorologist Alan Sealls
WKRG-TV, Mobile, Alabama

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