US weather: Tropical storm could make landfall as ‘major’ hurricane in just days

Simmering ocean temperatures after summer and ideal atmospheric storm conditions will “rocket fuel” Sara as she sweeps inland.

AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva said: “We’ll likely be dealing with a hurricane as we head into this weekend.

“There is increasing confidence for a tropical storm to develop in the central to western Caribbean later this week.

“We could be dealing with a storm that rapidly intensifies into a major hurricane in these very conducive conditions.

“The atmosphere is primed for development.”

Hurricane Sara would spawn in a similar manner to Helene and Milton, erupting from the Caribbean Sea.

Hurricanes usually start their journey off the west coast of Africa before riding the easterly Trade Winds to the American continent.

However, unusually high temperatures through summer and warm seas have turned local waters into a breeding ground.

Wind shear – opposing winds high in the atmosphere which hinder hurricane formation – is low, experts warn.

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DaSilva said: “The Ocean Heat Content, which is how deep the warm waters extend below the surface of the ocean, is at record levels for the time of the year in the Caribbean, and this can act like rocket fuel for developing tropical storms or hurricanes.

“The low wind shear, combined with the exceptionally high Ocean Heat Content, can lead to rapid development over the coming weekend.”

Once again, families and businesses along the east and southeast coast are warned to be ready for severe weather.

The latest warning comes at what should be the tail end of a particularly vicious storm season.

AccuWeather meteorologist Jon Porter said: “These warm waters will act like high-octane rocket fuel for this brewing storm.

“We’ve been warning people for months that the final stretch of this hurricane season would be very active.

“After that long lull during the historical peak of the hurricane season, we’re now dealing with the threat of a major hurricane in the Caribbean in the middle of November.”

The US National Hurricane Centre (NOAA) has warned of a high chance of hurricane formation ahead of the weekend.

Sara, currently a depression called ‘Invest 99L’ would be the eighteenth storm of the season.

Caribbean regions will be in the firing line for the worst of the assault, although a northward track would take Sara into the US coast.

A spokesman for The Weather Channel said: “Computer model forecast guidance indicates this system could become Tropical Storm Sara soon after first becoming a depression.

“With relatively low wind shear and record warm Caribbean water for mid-November, Sara could ramp up to a hurricane late this week in the western Caribbean Sea.

“Beyond that, an increasing number of forecast models suggest Sara could then begin moving northwest in the western Caribbean Sea early next week.”