Tropical storm number 24 forms in the Caribbean Sea. by Susan Powell
The busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record has just got busier. Tropical storm ‘Gamma’ has formed off the northern coast of Honduras, in the Caribbean Sea. The 24th named storm of the season has current wind speeds of 45 mph, but US forecasters are expected the storm to strengthen further over the next 24 hours, possibly even reaching hurricane force.
The storm has already caused flooding and landslides in Honduras where it is reported that two people have been killed. The government have ordered the evacuation of hundreds of people along the northern Honduras coastline.
The current track of Gamma takes it in a north-westerly direction, towards the eastern coasts of Belize and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, before shifting north-east towards Cuba and Florida - a track very similar to that of hurricane Wilma. Wilma hit the southern tip of Florida on October 24th, causing widespread damage and destruction.
Tropical storm warnings are now in effect for Belize and Mexico and rainfall amounts of up to 15 inches can be expected.
The formation of Gamma has extended the Atlantic’s record-breaking storm season. The previous record of 21 named storms had been held since 1933, and after the exhaustion of our alphabet, for the first, officials had to turn to the Greek alphabet to name the storms.
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