Tropical Storm Dolly forms in Atlantic, could bring heavy rain to Leeward Islands
Key Points(5)
- Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the central tropical Atlantic on Thursday morning, becoming the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
- The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that as of 11 a.m., the center of Dolly was located near latitude 13.6 north and longitude 38.7 west, moving west at 24 mph.
- The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, with higher gusts, while tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles from its center.
- Its estimated minimum central pressure was 1007 millibars.
- Dolly is expected to continue moving westward over the next couple of days and could approach the Leeward Islands this weekend.
Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the central tropical Atlantic on Thursday morning, becoming the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that as of 11 a.m., the center of Dolly was located near latitude 13.6 north and longitude 38.7 west, moving west at 24 mph.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, with higher gusts, while tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles from its center. Its estimated minimum central pressure was 1007 millibars.
Dolly is expected to continue moving westward over the next couple of days and could approach the Leeward Islands this weekend. Forecasters are urging residents across the islands to monitor the storm's progress.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect Thursday.
Little change in Dolly's strength is forecast over the next 48 hours, and the NHC expects the system to degenerate into a tropical wave before reaching the Leeward Islands.
Despite the expected weakening, Dolly could still bring potentially hazardous weather to parts of the Caribbean.
Heavy rainfall could begin affecting the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday before spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Sunday and Monday, according to the NHC.
Forecasters warned that the rainfall could produce flash flooding, particularly in areas of higher terrain.
Dolly's formation has also attracted attention because it came just two days after the death of country music icon Dolly Parton. However, the timing is coincidental, as Dolly was already included on the predetermined list of names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical cyclones are assigned names from predetermined lists maintained through the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The names are intended to make storm warnings easier to communicate and reduce confusion when multiple systems are active.
Names are generally selected to be short, recognizable and easy to pronounce. Particularly deadly or destructive storm names can later be retired from the rotating lists.
Melissa, the Category 5 hurricane that caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean during the 2025 season, was among the names retired following last year's hurricane season.
Dolly follows Tropical Storm Arthur, which came ashore along the U.S. Gulf Coast in June, Tropical Storm Bertha, which brought heavy rainfall to Louisiana and Texas in July, and Tropical Storm Cristobal, which formed and quickly dissipated over the Atlantic earlier this month.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season amid El Niño conditions. Its outlook calls for eight to 14 named storms, including three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes.
