According to Forecasters, Tropical Storm Cindy has formed behind Tropical Storm Bret, a first such instance in tropical Atlantic since the record keeping began in 1851. Some forecasters blamed the high sea temperatures could be the reason for this historical event.
An early and aggressive start to the Atlantic hurricane season that began on June 1 and lasts till October. The hurricane season is usually on its peak from mid-August to mid-October.
Studies show that a warmer world is producing wetter and more intense hurricanes, with scientists still trying to figure out if climate change alters how many storms brew. Because of more early and pre-season storms, the National Hurricane Center has started issuing advisories earlier in the year, with experts recently discussing the idea of declaring the start of the hurricane season earlier.
Cindy is expected to be a tropical storm as it heads northeast towards open waters.
Meanwhile, Bret brought winds, heavy rain and swells up to 15 feet to the eastern Caribbean island early Friday. Officials in the French Caribbean island of Martinique said they were searching for four people who apparently were aboard a lifeboat after their catamaran sank during the storm.
Power outrages were reported in St. Vincent and Grenadines. More then 100 people seeking protection in government shelters as storm cause severe damage to several homes.
More then a dozen reports of damages have been received in Barbados, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
The storm’s center was west of St. Vincent and moving west into open waters at 18 mph (30 kph). Its maximum sustained winds were 60 mph (95 kph).
Airports, businesses, schools and offices closed on St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and other islands by midday Thursday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast 12 to 17 named storms for this year’s hurricane season. It said between five and nine of those storms could become hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.
