The tropics are heating up

Hurricane Gert is located in the open waters of the Atlantic, while three other areas of disturbed weather are being closely monitored for development. (Weather Nation)

Hurricane Gert is churning northeast through the Atlantic Ocean this morning, 765km south of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Gert is the second hurricane of the 2017 season, and the earliest G named storm dating back to the 2005 season. Gert is forecast to remain well offshore along the east coast, however large swells are being generated by the storm. Wave heights along the Nova Scotia coast are expected to be as high as 2 metres through Thursday. On the south coast of Newfoundland, the waves may reach up to 4 metres and 5 metres in the Grand Banks.

As we head into the thick of the Atlantic hurricane season, the tropics are heating up. No less than three areas of disturbed weather in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean have the potential to become tropical systems. A tropical storm is named when winds reach 39mph. The storm is officially a hurricane at 74mph. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre in Miami will be closely monitoring the systems for potential development and to evaluate the risk to the Caribbean and eastern seaboard.

Eclipse Weather
Monday, August 21st will be an historic day, as a full solar eclipse takes place across portions of the United States. Here in Montreal, 60 to 70 percent of the sun will be blocked by the passage of the moon, reaching a peak at 2:38pm. At this time, the weather looks perfect for viewing in Montreal and southern Quebec. High pressure will be in control, with sunshine and warm temperatures in the upper 20s.