Atlantic storm Danielle strengthens to hurricane force
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Danielle_aug_23_20101315Z.jpg/220px-Danielle_aug_23_20101315Z.jpg)
Image: MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Tuesday_24_-_Danielle_Projection.gif/220px-Tuesday_24_-_Danielle_Projection.gif)
Image: NOAA.
Tropical Storm Danielle is now a Category 1 hurricane, with winds up to 130 km/h (80 mph). The storm is headed towards Bermuda and forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida expect it to strengthen over the next two days. Hurricane Danielle is the second hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Frank_aug_22_2010_1745Z.jpg/220px-Frank_aug_22_2010_1745Z.jpg)
Image: NASA/GSFC/NOAA.
North America is simultaneously threatened by Tropical Storm Frank. The 80 km/h (50 mph) storm in the Pacific Ocean is about 210 km (130 miles) south-south west of Acapulco, Mexico. Mexico has issued a tropical storm watch in the area.
Hurricane Danielle formed near the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa, being classified as Tropical Depression Six. It then developed into a more organized cyclone.
Meteorologists predict that Danielle will be the first of several storms to form within the next two weeks, as the Atlantic hurricane season is currently at its peak. "There are signs that the Atlantic is acting like it should in August and September. We're seeing more activity than we did earlier in the season," said Rick Knabb of the Weather Channel.
Even though the 2010 season seems to be one with low activity, emergency officials are still stressing safety and awareness to residents in hurricane-prone areas. "It only takes one storm to cause a loss of lives and devastating property damage," Lauren McKeague, Florida Division of Emergency Management, says. Hurricane Andrew was a catastrophic Category 5 storm that came during a year when it was a lower-than-average season.
Related news
- "Tropical Storm Danielle forms in Atlantic Ocean" — Wikinews, August 23, 2010
Sources
- NWS TPC/National Hurricane Center. "HURRICANE DANIELLE ADVISORY NUMBER 12, 1100 AM AST" — NOAA, Aug 24, 2010
- Associated Press. "Hurricane Danielle becomes Category 2 storm" — USA Today, August 23, 2010
- Doyle Rice. "Danielle forecast to be hurricane mid-week" — USA Today, August 22, 2010
- Suzette Porter. "Danielle forms in eastern Atlantic" — Tampa Bay Newspapers, August 22, 2010
- Frank Roylance. "Tropical depression could be hurricane by Monday" — Baltimore Sun, August 22, 2010