Peak of Hurricane Season and our A-B-C’s just ran out

“Alpha” forms near Portugal and “Beta” in the Gulf

Peak of Hurricane Season and our A-B-C’s just ran out
By Jim Duncan | September 18, 2020 at 1:06 PM EDT - Updated September 20 at 10:02 AM

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The astonishingly busy Atlantic Hurricane season of 2020 continues as we have exhausted the standard list and are now into the Greek alphabet with subtropical storm Alpha near Portugal and tropical storm Beta over the western Gulf.

Here’s a refresher on the officially named storms we’ve seen so far:

Named storms have run through the initial list
Named storms have run through the initial list (Source: National Hurricane Center (NHC))

Now, forecasters must use the Greek alphabet for only the second time since the 1950s (Including 2005), with more than two months left in the record-shattering hurricane season.

We're into the Greek alphabet with storm names and we're just now only at the typical peak of hurricane season
We're into the Greek alphabet with storm names and we're just now only at the typical peak of hurricane season (Source: National Hurricane Center (NHC))

Here’s the BIG-picture snapshot of all the current tropical systems. Tropical Storm Beta in the western Gulf could soon pose a heavy rain and wind threat to the Texas Coast over the next 5 days.

This picture tells the story of a VERY active peak of hurricane season. We are now in the Greek alphabet for names with Alpha and Beta forming Friday
This picture tells the story of a VERY active peak of hurricane season. We are now in the Greek alphabet for names with Alpha and Beta forming Friday (Source: National Hurricane Center (NHC))

The forecast track of Beta from NHC shows very slow movement to the west-northwest over several days.

Tropical Storm Beta is forecast to impact the Texas coastline by Tuesday
Tropical Storm Beta is forecast to impact the Texas coastline by Tuesday (Source: NHC)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Teddy will combine with HIGH pressure over the Northeastern U.S. through the weekend into early next week to produce strong northeasterly winds along the Atlantic Coast which will greatly increase the threat of tidal flooding. Here’s the setup:

HIGH pressure will combine with offshore Teddy to enhance northeasterly winds and coastal flooding threat
HIGH pressure will combine with offshore Teddy to enhance northeasterly winds and coastal flooding threat (Source: The Weather Company)

Be sure to keep up with the latest on the tropics on NBC12 on TV, online and on the NBC12 Weather App!

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