Here come two more

Hurricane Igor is roaring its way across the tropical Atlantic, a Category 4 storm that will likely intensify to Category 5. Igor formed just off the coast of Africa on Sept. 7. For several days it meandered in the area of the Cape Verde Islands, over cooler waters. The storm showed good tropical storm formation, though, and after it moved into warmer waters to the west it intensified rapidly. As of Monday morning it was approaching the Leeward Islands, but the National Hurricane Center predicted it would turn to the northwest, and then more northward, heading toward Bermuda.

Next up was Tropical Storm Julia, which also formed off the coast of Africa in the vicinity of Cape Verde. It grew into a tropical storm on Monday and is tracking generally westward. It, too, is over cooler water but is likely to intensify as it moves into warmer water to the west. The National Hurricane Center predicts it will move more northwestward to the east of Igor.

Meanwhile, NOAA predicts the current La Nina pattern over the tropical Pacific will continue intensifying into winter. This will increase the likelihood of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic.