1 of 2 | Tropical Storm Ferdinand is expected to dissipate by Thursday. Photo by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The season’s sixth named storm, Tropical Storm Fernand, weakened slightly overnight in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to dissipate before the end of the work week, forecasters said Tuesday.
The tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph while located about 635 miles east-northeast of Bermuda and moving northeast at 14 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. AST advisory.
Tropical storm-force winds extend outward about 80 miles from the storm’s eye, the NHC said.
“Continued weakening is likely, and Fernand is likely to become a post-tropical cyclone later tonight or early Wednesday before dissipating on Thursday,” it said.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, and the storm likely will remain at sea throughout its life.
The storm system began forming as Hurricane Erin affected areas along the East Coast without making landfall last week. The hurricane was the season’s first and briefly reached Category 4 status with maximum sustained winds of up to 150 mph.
Colorado State University climatologists in April predicted this year’s storm season will produce 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes.
The climatologists predicted four hurricanes would reach “major” Category 3 storm status with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
The annual Atlantic storm season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Last year produced 18 named storms, including 11 hurricanes.
Five hurricanes became major hurricanes, including the highly destructive Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
