Tropical Storm jerry has formed over the central Atlantic Ocean, marking the tenth named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.While currently posing no immediate threat to land, Jerry‘s advancement arrives amid a season that began with heightened concerns of increased activity, and follows recent destructive surf that caused multiple coastal homes in North Carolina’s Outer Banks to collapse.
Despite initial forecasts predicting a more active season, with the potential for up to five Category 5 hurricanes, Jerry is only the second named storm to directly impact the United States, with Tropical Storm Chantal making landfall in South Carolina earlier in the year.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Management (NOAA) originally forecasted between 13 and 19 named storms, with five to nine becoming hurricanes. In August, NOAA revised its outlook slightly, predicting 13 to 18 named storms, including five to nine hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. While Jerry’s formation doesn’t necessarily indicate a shift towards increased activity,it serves as a reminder of the ongoing potential for tropical systems to develop and impact coastal communities. The relatively quite season thus far has been punctuated by localized damage, such as the recent coastal erosion and home collapses in Buxton, North Carolina, attributed to powerful swells generated by distant storms.
Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com, covering breaking news, extreme weather, and social justice issues. She previously wrote for the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.
