Subtropical Storm Alpha forms off the coast of Portugal

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Subtropical Storm Alpha formed off the coast of Portugal on Friday afternoon. It’s expected to be short-lived, but bring winds and rain to portions of Portugal according to the National Hurricane Center.

A subtropical system has characteristics of both a low-pressure system and a tropical storm. Names are given to storms that have sustained wind speeds higher than 39 mph. As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Alpha has maximum sustain wind speeds of 50 mph.

Tropical Storm Wilfred also formed in the eastern Tropical Atlantic on Friday. Wilfred was the last name left on the list generated at the beginning of hurricane season by the World Meteorological Organization.

Each storm after WiIfred will now be named storms based on the Greek alphabet. The last time that happened was 2005, when there were 28 named storms.

There’s a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico that meteorologist are watching. It’s expected to become a tropical storm later today. When it does form, it will likely be named “Beta”

Tropical view as of Sept. 18, 2020

WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the tropical depression could become a Category 1 storm off the coast of Texas early next week. It is unclear if it will make landfall there.

Hurricane Teddy, currently a Cat. 4 storm as it will weaken as it passes Bermuda, and it could make landfall north of Maine next week, Gardner said.

The storms are not expected to impact North Carolina, although Tropical Depression 22 could bring rip currents to the coast later next week.

We are in the peak of hurricane season until early-mid October. The season officially ends Nov. 30.