HALIFAX — Forecasters said the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season would pack a punch and so far they’re right as Houston braces for another hit from Harvey, and Atlantic Canada eyes a large storm system off the coast of Florida that’s likely to push its way north Wednesday or Thursday.
The U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently re-issued its scheduled update for its 2017 hurricane season outlook with a jump in the predicted number of named storms and major hurricanes. Forecasters said they are predicting a higher likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, saying the season has the potential to be “extremely active” and could be the most active since 2010 when there were 19 tropical storms including 12 hurricanes.
Post Harvey, more than three days after the storm ravaged the Texas coastline as a Category 4 hurricane, authorities worry that the tropical storm now parked over the Gulf Coast will return and deliver a knock-out blow to a Houston region already ravaged by devastating downpours generating an amount of rain normally seen only once in more than 1,000 years. Some fear that may be more than the nation’s fourth-largest city could bear.
Corpus Christi International Airport has reopened however George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport in Houston remain closed as heavy rain and flooding continue. Both have been shut down since midday Sunday.
Meanwhile the Canadian Hurricane Centre says a large storm system off the coast of Florida will likely churn ocean waters off Atlantic Canada tomorrow or Thursday.
Forecasters say potential tropical cyclone ten is expected to become tropical storm Irma today, and is then expected to accelerate toward the northeast and evolve into a large and fairly intense post-tropical storm.
Based on the latest track, rain and strong winds from Irma are expected to remain offshore and not make landfall.
But the centre says rain and gusty northeast winds could impact Nova Scotia and southeastern Newfoundland on Thursday.
Forecasters say at this point southern Canadian waters will likely see gale- to storm-force winds.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
