Tropical Storm Karl forms in the Caribbean

An area of disturbed tropical weather in the Caribbean finally organized enough today to become Tropical Storm Karl. Karl currently has 45 MPH winds and is expected to gain strength before slamming into the Yucatan Peninsula as a strong tropical storm. Water temepratures are quite warm in the western Caribbean and wind shear is low. Higher wind shear prevented Karl from forming as it crossed the Caribbean.


Tropical Storm Karl forms in Caribbean(Associated Press)

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Karl has formed in the northwestern Caribbean, heading on a path expected to take it over the Yucatan Peninsula.

Forecasters say the storm has maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph (65 kph) and is located about 270 miles (435 kph) east of Chetumal, Mexico. It's moving west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).

Mexico's government has issued a tropical storm warning for the peninsula from Chetumal northward to Cabo Catoche. Parts of Belize are under a tropical storm watch.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm is expected to strengthen, and its center could be over the Yucatan on Wednesday.

There are now three tropical systems in the Atlantic Basin. Two hurricanes, Igor and Julia and TS Karl in the Caribbean. Igor was the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year and is strengthening again. Of the three, Karl is an immediate threat to land as it approaches Mexico. Igor will be a threat to Bermuda as a strong Cat 2 or potentially a Cat 3 storm by the weekend.

Three Tropical Cyclones Tracked in Atlantic by National Hurricane Center(Bloomberg)

For the third time in less than a month, the National Hurricane Center is tracking three storms in the Atlantic.

Hurricanes Igor and Julia are spinning their way through the central Atlantic, while newly formed Tropical Storm Karl heads for Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and from there into the Bay of Campeche, where state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos has wells.

“I expect Karl to become a low-end hurricane as it tracks across southern and central portions of the Bay of Campeche,” said Jim Rouiller, senior energy meteorologist for Planalytics Inc. in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. “The Mexican rigs and platforms will probably be shut in.”

Video: Two Hurricanes Now Churning Through Atlantic (Associated Press)