More hurricanes take shape
As Florida residents brace for Irma’s wrath, two other hurricanes — Jose and Katia — officially formed yesterday.
Hurricane Jose, which formed well east of Hurricane Irma, is expected to strengthen over the next few days and attain major hurricane status sometime this weekend. Although models last night didn’t suggest Jose poses a threat to the continental United States, the storm, which meteorologists warn could generate sustained winds in excess of 130 mph, could deliver another blow to the northern Leeward Islands, which are still recovering from a direct hit from Irma.
Also yesterday, the National Weather Service said Hurricane Katia formed in the Gulf off the coast of Mexico with sustained winds of 75 mph.
And though the 2017 hurricane season may seem particularly bad, experts say it hasn’t been unusual. According to the weather service, an average hurricane season produces 12 named storms. Storms get names when winds reach 39 mph. Jose and Katia are the 10th and 11th this season.
The average season produces six hurricanes and three of those become major at 111 mph winds or higher. So far this year, there have been six hurricanes: two major ones, Harvey and Irma; two new ones yesterday, Katia and Jose; and Franklin and Gert.
Major storms can and do form back-to-back and did so last year with Matthew and Nicole, but having more than one hit the U.S. in a season is rare. If Irma hits Florida as a Category 4 or 5 storm, it will be the first time in the historical record that the U.S. was hit by two Cat 4 or 5 storms in one year, according to Colorado State University meteorology professor Phil Klotzbach.