Delta Near Hurricane Strength
MIAMI, Nov. 24, 2005
MIAMI, Nov. 24, 2005
 (CBS/AP) Quote  "It's way out there in the middle of nowhere." Stacy Stewart hurricane specialist |
(AP) Tropical Storm Delta neared hurricane strength Thursday in the central Atlantic, continuing a record-breaking hurricane season.
The 25th named storm of the season formed Wednesday and poses a threat only to shipping, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was not headed for the United States.
"It's way out there in the middle of nowhere," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.
At 4 p.m. EST, Delta's top sustained winds had strengthened to 70 mph and the storm was expected to intensify. If winds reach 74 mph, it would be the season's 14th hurricane.
Delta was centered about 1,160 miles southwest of the Azores. It was nearly stationary, and forecasters said the storm could eventually head north. The storm was large, with tropical storm-force winds stretching 230 miles from its center.
The 25 named tropical storms and hurricanes this year broke the record for the busiest hurricane season. The previous record was 21 storms, set in 1933. The 13 hurricanes so far this year also broke the record of 12 set in 1969.
The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but forecasters warn that tropical storms and hurricanes can develop in December.
"There's no way of telling. We could certainly have one, maybe two by Christmas," Stewart said. "But these things usually form way out over the Atlantic, where they're mainly a threat to shipping. Rarely do they make landfall."
Last year, Tropical Storm Otto formed on the last day of the season, Nov. 30, and lasted until Dec. 3. In 2003, two storms, Odette and Peter, formed in December.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the latest hurricane to strike the U.S. was on Nov. 30, 1925, near Tampa.
Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, became the most expensive U.S. hurricane ever and the deadliest one to hit America since 1928.
The 25th named storm of the season formed Wednesday and poses a threat only to shipping, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was not headed for the United States.
"It's way out there in the middle of nowhere," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.
At 4 p.m. EST, Delta's top sustained winds had strengthened to 70 mph and the storm was expected to intensify. If winds reach 74 mph, it would be the season's 14th hurricane.
Delta was centered about 1,160 miles southwest of the Azores. It was nearly stationary, and forecasters said the storm could eventually head north. The storm was large, with tropical storm-force winds stretching 230 miles from its center.
The 25 named tropical storms and hurricanes this year broke the record for the busiest hurricane season. The previous record was 21 storms, set in 1933. The 13 hurricanes so far this year also broke the record of 12 set in 1969.
The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but forecasters warn that tropical storms and hurricanes can develop in December.
"There's no way of telling. We could certainly have one, maybe two by Christmas," Stewart said. "But these things usually form way out over the Atlantic, where they're mainly a threat to shipping. Rarely do they make landfall."
Last year, Tropical Storm Otto formed on the last day of the season, Nov. 30, and lasted until Dec. 3. In 2003, two storms, Odette and Peter, formed in December.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the latest hurricane to strike the U.S. was on Nov. 30, 1925, near Tampa.
Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, became the most expensive U.S. hurricane ever and the deadliest one to hit America since 1928.
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Tropical Storm Delta gains strength
Predicted to weaken before reaching Canary Islands
Monday, November 28, 2005 Posted: 0402 GMT (1202 HKT)
Tropical Storm Delta is seen west of Africa in this satellite image taken Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Tropical Storm Delta gained strength in the central Atlantic on Sunday but was expected to weaken before reaching the Canary Islands, forecasters said.
Delta, the 25th named storm of the record 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, had top sustained wind near 65 mph, up from 40 mph earlier in the day.
At 10 p.m. EST, Delta was centered about 475 miles west of La Palma in the Canary Islands and moving east-northeast near 26 mph.
It was expected to lose the characteristics of a tropical storm before reaching the Canary Islands off the northwestern coast of Africa on Monday but still could have strong winds, the hurricane center said.
The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally develop in December.
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