The National Hurricane Center says Danny is small and compact for a hurricane, with hurricane-force winds extending only 10-miles from the center. Danny is moving to the west-northwest at 12 mph and is located about 1.090 miles east of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands.
Danny is expected to remain on its trajectory for the next 48 to 72 hours, when a mid- to upper-level trough north of Bermuda is forecast to begin lifting out to the north in 96 to 120 hours, which should allow the subtropical ridge to the north of Danny to build back westward, forcing Danny on a more westward track on days 4 and 5.
Because of Danny’s compact size, it will be subject to frequent fluctuations in strength, both up and down. This is going to make it difficult for forecasters to predict.
At the present time, with low-level wind shear possibly even penetrating into the core of Danny, the hurricane could lose intensity by the time it reaches the Leeward Island.
In comparing the size of Danny to other hurricanes, Weather Channel meteorologist Nick Wiltgen tweeted. “you could fit 321 Danny’s into Hurricane Sandy,” reported USA Today.
Many Caribbean islands plagued with drought conditions would welcome some rainfall, but with hurricanes, you sometimes get more than you wish for. Forecasters have already predicted a below-normal number of hurricanes this season, in part, due to this year’s strong El Nino, says CNN.
Over 63 percent of Puerto Rico is suffering from drought, forcing the U.S. territory to enact severe water rationing measures. Just one week ago Digital Journal reported Puerto Rico’s Congressional Representative sent a letter to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, asking for help with the country’s water shortage.
In the capital, San Juan, July was the fourth-driest month on record since 1898, with only 1.6 inches of rain measured, according to the National Weather Service. Tropical storms Ana, Bill and Claudette formed earlier this year but failed to reach hurricane intensity.
