Atlanic Tropical Storm Season Heats Up With Hurricane Danielle, Tropical Storm Earl

(Aug. 26) -- The active Atlantic tropical weather that was expected by forecasters has apparently begun with two named storms -- Hurricane Danielle and Tropical Storm Earl -- and at least one other system brewing.

Hurricane Danielle, packing 110 mph wind this afternoon, is a potential threat for Bermuda this weekend, although according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, it's looking more likely that the hurricane will track to the east of the island.

Forecasters expect that Danielle will become the season's first major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) tonight or Friday, with a sustained wind of over 110 mph, as it moves over warm water in an environment with little wind shear. Storms that track into this part of the Atlantic are typically not a direct threat to the United States.

Tropical Storm Earl was 1,620 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands this afternoon, so it's many days away from being a potential threat to the Caribbean or the United States. Earl, whose winds were clocked at 45 mph today, will most likely be upgraded to a hurricane by early Saturday, forecasters said.

The forecast track is farther to the south than the track that Danielle has taken, which means that Earl has a greater likelihood of moving more into the western Atlantic. By midday Monday, forecasters project, the storm will be to the north of the Leeward Islands and then perhaps be pulled northward to the east of the U.S. coast.

People in the Caribbean will need to monitor the track of this storm closely, and U.S. coastal residents should not dismiss the threat yet.

In addition to the two named storms, there are two other areas of disturbed weather, one of which could develop in the coming days.

Fortunately, the tropical system that would pose a risk to the United States the earliest is the one that's least likely to develop. A weak area of low pressure in the western Gulf of Mexico will drift westward or west-southwestward during the next couple of days. The low pressure system has weakened in the past day, and forecasters believe that a tropical storm or hurricane development is unlikely.

The system that has the best chance to become Tropical Storm or Hurricane Fiona (the next name on the list) is in the eastern Atlantic -- most likely more than a week away from being a threat to the Caribbean or U.S. This system is trailing Danielle and Earl moving into an environment where development is likely.