UPDATE 9/22/20 5PM:
Tropical Storm Paulette is maintaining 40mph winds but is expected to become post-tropical late tonight or Wednesday. Wind shear & cooler water will cause it to weaken & it should become a remnant low before dissipating by Friday or Saturday.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
Update 9/22/20 11AM:
Paulette's winds have decreased to 40mph as it continues to weaken in the eastern Atlantic moving east at 14mph. It is expected to become post-tropical in a couple of days.
FOX4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 9/22/20 5 AM:
Paulette continues moving toward the east-northeast just southeast of the Azores.
The storms is then expected to turn southward and southwestward Wednesday night and Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Paulette is expected to become post-tropical by Wednesday night or Thursday.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 9/21/20 11 PM:
Paulette has regained tropical storm status near the Azores as of Monday night/early Tuesday morning. The storm will drift around the Azores through mid-week with weakening back to an area of low pressure by later this week.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/16/20 11 AM:
The last advisory was issued on Paulette this morning with winds of 85 mph as it transitions to a post-tropical cyclone. This will be our final update on the storm.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/15/20 5 AM:
Paulette will remain a hurricane for the near-term as it heads northeast in the north Atlantic. A turn toward the south is expected this weekend toward the Azores. Overall the storm will pose no significant threat to land through the end of the week.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/15/20 5 AM:
Paulette is maintaining its strength as it accelerates northeastward.
Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible through tonight, but rapid weakening is forecast to begin on Wednesday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT
UPDATE 9/14/20 11 AM:
Paulette continues to bring damaging winds to the island of Bermuda this morning with the eye now moving away from the area. Strong winds will subside by tonight as Paulette moves into the Atlantic. The storm will remain out to sea for the remainder of the week headed toward the Azores by this weekend. It will remain a significant hurricane through mid-week.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/14/20 8AM:
The eye of Hurricane Paulette is moving away from the Island of Bermuda but the hurricane force winds and torrential rains associated with the southern eyewall continue affecting the area.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 95 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is likely when Paulette turns northeastward and moves away from Bermuda tonight through Tuesday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Hurricane force winds are returning as the southern portion of Paulette's eyewall continues to move over the island.
Tropical storm force winds will continue possibly into the early afternoon across the entire island. The estimated minimum central pressure based on hurricane hunter aircraft and surface observations on Bermuda is 970 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT
UPDATE 9/13/20 11 PM
Paulette is close to Bermuda and will make landfall sometime overnight as a Category 1 hurricane. Paulette has maximum sustained wind of 85 mph and is expected to move toward the north and northeast moving away from the United States.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 9/13/20 5 PM
Paulette has strengthened to 85 mph and is expected to impact Bermuda tonight and Monday. Palette is expected to become a Category 2 storm before turning to the north and northeast as it moves away from the United States.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 9/12/20 11 PM
Paulette is now a hurricane with maximum sustained wind of 75 mph. It continues to move rather quickly to the WNW at 14 mph. Central pressure has lowered to 981 mb showing further signs of strengthening. Paulette will continue on a WNW track and turn to the north Monday coming very close to Bermuda before turning to the northeast and moving away from the United States. Paulette could become a strong Category 2 hurricane while impacting Bermuda.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 9/12/2020 5 PM:
Tropical Storm Paulette has maximum sustained wind just under hurricane criteria at 70 mph. It continues to move to the northwest at 15 mph. Paulette should become a hurricane tonight. It's expected to turn to the north near Bermuda Monday then northeast away from the United States. Conditions look favorable for at least a Category 2 hurricane as it makes its way near Bermuda and into the northern Atlantic next week.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 9/12/2020 5 AM:
Paulette expected to become a hurricane today and is forecast to bring hazardous conditions to Bermuda by Sunday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is anticipated and Paulette is forecast to become a hurricane later today. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 9/11/2020 5 AM:
Paulette expected to become a hurricane over the weekend and swells generated by Paulette are forecast to spread across the southeastern Atlantic through the weekend.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected today. Gradual strengthening is expected to begin tonight or on Saturday.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 9/10/2020 11 PM:
Paulette is stronger with winds of 65 mph. The forecast track remains mostly unchanged with it increasing to hurricane strength by this weekend and heading toward Bermuda by early next week. The storm is expected to generate big waves along the U.S. East Coast, especially the Carolinas later in the period but will away from land areas.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/10/2020 11 AM:
Paulette has been battling strong SW shear for the last day or so and finally it is taking its toll. The shear will relax in the coming days and restrengthening is expected to hurricane status through the period. It still is not expected to affect any land areas besides Bermuda as some of the model tracks do take it that far west, but it should stay away from the U.S. East Coast.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/10/2020 5 AM:
Tropical Storm Paulette is expected to weaken shortly, but then restrengthen forecast over the weekend and possibly become a hurricane early next week.
Paulette is moving toward the WNW near 10 mph and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday. A northwestward motion should begin Friday evening and continue into the weekend. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 9/9/2020 5 AM:
Paulette jogs to the west as it encounters wind shear. It is expected turn WNW later today.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast today, with gradual weakening anticipated on Thursday and Friday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 9/8/2020 11 PM:
Paulette organized a bit during the day with winds up to 65 mph earlier, but weakening has occurred through the evening. The forecast track remains unchanged and will continue west before turning northward into a weakness in the Bermuda High late this week into this weekend. This will keep it away from any land areas.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/8/2020 5 AM:
The center of Tropical Storm Paulette was located near latitude 18.1 North, longitude 42.8 West. Paulette is moving toward the northwest near 6 mph and should continue in this general motion with a faster forward speed later today, then move west-northwestward Wednesday through Friday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Further strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, with little change in strength expected afterward through Thursday. Some weakening is expected Thursday evening and Friday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 9/7/2020 11 PM:
No significant changes with Paulette. The storm will strengthen modestly through late week then turn more north by this weekend. It will remain well out to sea with no threat to land areas.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/7/2020 11 AM:
Tropical Storm Paulette has formed this morning...it will remain in the Atlantic this week with no threat to land.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 9/7/2020 8 AM:
Tropical Depression 17 continues to move through the Atlantic this morning. Some strengthening into a tropical storm is expected in the next several days, however some upper level wind shear could stop the system from developing beyond that. The system is forecast to continue on a WNW track. At this time, there is no threat to us here in Southwest Florida.
FOX 4 FORECASTER LAUREN PETRELLI
FIRST UPDATE 9/6/20 11 PM
Tropical Depression 17 formed in the Atlantic Sunday evening and is moving WNW. Some strengthening is expected and it could become a tropical storm in a couple of days. The latest forecast model tracks take it WNW with a turn toward the north as it finds a weakness in the Bermuda high in about 7-10 days. In other words, there are no indications this storm will be an issue for the U.S. East Coast. We'll keep you updated if anything changes.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
