Tropical Storm Dolly, the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, formed Thursday, the National Hurricane Center announced. The storm is not named in honor of the recently deceased country music star Dolly Parton, as storm names are selected years in advance by the National Hurricane Center.
Dolly has sustained winds of 40 miles per hour and is currently moving west at 24 miles per hour. Forecasters predict that the storm will maintain its current strength before weakening and eventually dissipating into a tropical wave as it approaches the Leeward Islands late this weekend.
Potential impacts for the Leeward Islands, which include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Hispaniola, include heavy rainfall beginning late Saturday into Sunday. This rainfall could lead to flash flooding, particularly in higher elevations. The National Hurricane Center is maintaining its prediction for a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The name Dolly is scheduled for reuse by the NHC in 2032.