Tropical Storm Dolly has rapidly formed in the Atlantic Ocean, with early forecast models suggesting a potential trajectory towards the U.S. East Coast.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced Dolly's development into a tropical storm at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday. The storm bypassed the tropical depression stage, exhibiting sustained winds exceeding 40 mph.
Initial "spaghetti models," which forecast various storm paths, show a strong likelihood of Dolly moving directly towards Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Subsequent predicted tracks suggest the storm could continue toward Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Florida coast. One model, the American GFS, indicated a path as far north as the Carolinas, though forecasters caution that models can change significantly as a storm develops and approaches land.
NHC officials have stated that Dolly may be a short-lived tropical storm, as it is expected to encounter strong wind shear in the Atlantic that could prevent it from intensifying into a hurricane. Nevertheless, heavy rainfall is anticipated for the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola over the weekend.
