October 21st, 2010
11:22 AM ET

Tropical Storm Richard forms near Central America

Tropical Storm Richard has formed off the coast of Central America, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday.

The upgrade came after data from a U.S. Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft investigating Tropical Depression Nineteen on Thursday morning found tropical-storm-force winds.

Tropical Storm Richard is the 17th named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.

The storm is moving toward the southeast at 6 mph. However, an area of high pressure that is steering the system over the Caribbean will begin to build and shift westward. This will cause the storm to turn toward the west and then northwest later today. The latest forecast track from the National Hurricane Center shows Richard making landfall on Sunday evening south of Cozumel on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast should carefully monitor the forecast for Richard. Some forecast models show the storm making a turn toward the north and northeast after it re-emerges off the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico. If Richard holds together, it could very well threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast next week.

Richard is expected to gradually intensify over the next day or two, becoming a Category 1 hurricane by Saturday morning. Strong upper-level winds and dry air will inhibit storm intensification over the next day or two. However, by Saturday, upper-level winds are expected to weaken creating a favorable environment for intensification.

Even though it is late in the season, some forecast models show the storm developing into a major hurricane in a few days. This is not entirely out of the question. The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends November 30. Tropical cyclone activity usually peaks in early September.

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Filed under: Tropical weather • Weather
soundoff (15 Responses)
  1. Dorothy

    Auntie Em! Auntie Em!

    October 21, 2010 at 11:29 am | Report abuse |
  2. Robert

    Hurricanes: the only thing I miss about not living in Miami.

    October 21, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • SarahLV

      You and me both!

      October 21, 2010 at 1:43 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Carlos

    Haven't we been soaked enough here in Honduras? Oh, well. I guess not.

    October 21, 2010 at 1:13 pm | Report abuse |
  4. liv

    I Pray all will be safe!.......One Love

    October 21, 2010 at 1:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • david wellsmith

      sweet heart

      October 22, 2010 at 2:31 pm | Report abuse |
  5. PCola Vet

    Hope it pops into the Gulf a little bit, we sure could use the surf.

    October 21, 2010 at 1:25 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Leslie

    In the Southeast we could REALLY use the rain!!!

    October 21, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • Melissa

      It hasn't rained here in Coastal GA in weeks – maybe even a good month! Bring it Richard (but the wind not so much)!

      October 21, 2010 at 3:27 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Steven

    Well to be honest, I used to say the same thing about hurricanes when I first moved away from Miami. However, now that I've returned, there hasn't been any at all. And the storms have been rather few in fact. It's strange. I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing. LOL!

    October 21, 2010 at 2:22 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Travis

    Damn. Just what we need.

    October 21, 2010 at 4:16 pm | Report abuse |
  9. kbaredge126c

    Bring it on Richard. Straight to Miami.

    October 21, 2010 at 5:57 pm | Report abuse |
  10. DNVoroshilov

    Just don't ruin Halloween.

    October 21, 2010 at 9:41 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Yep

    Leaving for Cancun Saturday morning, some vacation . . . dammit!

    October 22, 2010 at 12:09 am | Report abuse |
    • david wellsmith

      me too bro

      October 22, 2010 at 2:33 pm | Report abuse |
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