Hurricane Melissa name retired after destructive 2025 season
Hurricane Melissa's name was retired after 2025 season due to significant impacts.
Event / Disaster
2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Tropical Storm Dolly formed on August 27, 2026, as the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The season is tracking toward below-average activity due to El Niño suppression, with NOAA forecasting 8-14 named storms. Dolly poses a potential threat to Caribbean islands with heavy rain and flash flooding.
3 reported locations
Daily activity
3 articles0 articles
2026-08-27 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 27 Aug, 20:35 UTC
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What happened
Dolly is fourth named storm of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
Tropical Storm Dolly became the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Arthur (June), Tropical Storm Bertha (July), and Tropical Storm Cristobal (August).
NOAA forecasts below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted a below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026 due to El Niño conditions, predicting 8 to 14 named storms, with 3 to 6 reaching hurricane strength and 1 to 3 intensifying to major hurricanes.
Tropical Storm Dolly expected to weaken by Friday
The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecasted that environmental conditions would weaken Tropical Storm Dolly beginning Friday, with the system expected to degenerate into a tropical wave before reaching the Leeward Islands, likely on Saturday.
Tropical Storm Dolly may bring rain to Caribbean islands
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Dolly could cause flash flooding in sections of the Leeward Islands through Sunday, with potential impacts extending to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola through Monday.
Hurricane name Melissa retired after 2025 season
The name Melissa from the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was retired after the hurricane reached Category 5 strength and brought devastation to the Caribbean. Names are retired by the World Meteorological Organization for reasons of sensitivity, particularly for deadly or destructive storms.
El Niño expected to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity
A strengthening El Niño climate pattern is expected to suppress tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin while increasing storm activity in the Eastern and Central Pacific basins, contributing to the below-average forecast for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Dolly forms in Atlantic Ocean
Tropical Storm Dolly formed Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean far from land, approximately 1,555 miles east of the Leeward Islands. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph at formation, meeting the minimum threshold to be classified as a tropical storm.
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2 alternative perspectives
NOAA forecasts below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026
NOAA projects below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane activity due to El Niño suppression.
Tropical Storm Dolly forms as fourth named Atlantic storm
Tropical Storm Dolly formed in Atlantic as fourth 2026 named storm, expected to weaken Friday.