Tropical storm Grace update: Forecasts say storm may weaken before it becomes a threat
A storm was tracked as it started to organize its winds on Saturday in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and was named Grace, which is deemed by weather forecasts as not a threat to land and man at the moment.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Grace's tracks are still very uncertain at its early stages of picking up strength and it has the tendency to break down before it becomes a threat to land and people.
Grace is powered with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, and was spotted about 285 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands as of Sunday evening, giving it at least five days from the Lesser Antilles.
While weather forecasts suggest that Grace could also pick up strength within the next two days or so, it could cross paths with vertical winds, resulting to its weakening. If it successfully falls apart, little or no effect will be seen on dry land.
The Weather Channel says Grace indeed has an uncertain path, but people are still urged to stay alert and be prepared for the possibility of a strong tropical storm early in the week.
Grace is the seventh named tropical storm found on the eastern Atlantic and is moving west near 14 mph, and though multiple outlets have reported that it could weaken this week before it touches dry ground, the NHC strongly advices people to be ready in case a storm surge is announced.
A storm surge is a rise in water level that can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas, particularly when the surge collides with normal high tide. The collision results to storm tides that could reach up to 20 feet or more in some cases. Since storm surges come from water being pushed toward the shore by strong winds moving in a cyclone's path around the storm, residents of coastal areas are encouraged to be ready for unexpected circumstances.