With hurricane season well underway (June 1 through November 30), travelers should be wary of storm watches. September is historically the busiest month for tropical storms in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico.
On the morning of Sunday, September 20, Tropical Storm Fay formed in the northern Atlantic and is currently located about 450 miles southwest of the Azores, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, per ABC News.
The Azores are a group of nine Portuguese islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, with some additional strengthening expected in the short term, but it does not currently pose a threat to land, and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
Will Tropical Storm Fay Impact Travel?
Because Fay is about 2,400 miles from the U.S. East Coast and is expected to weaken and dissipate later this week, it’s unlikely to affect travel. There could be some localized flight-path or routing adjustments over the Atlantic, but no major widespread travel disruption.
The History of Fay:
In the last two decades or so, there have been several tropical storms and one hurricane with the name Fay.
Beginning in 2008, Tropical Storm Fay formed on August 15 and lasted through August 27. It reached maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and made four Florida landfalls.
Six years later, Hurricane Fay became a Category 1 hurricane and affected Bermuda. Fast forward to 2020, Tropical Storm Fay formed on July 9 and lasted through July 11. At its peak, winds reached 60 mph.
The U.S. Northeast, including parts of New Jersey, was affected, resulting in $220 million worth of damage.
What’s the Difference Between a Tropical Storm and a Hurricane?
The essential difference between a tropical storm and a hurricane is the wind speed. A tropical depression has winds of 38 mph or less, a tropical storm sees winds between 39 and 73 mph, and a hurricane sees winds of 74 mph or higher.
Because Tropical Storm Fay currently has winds of 45 mph, it is not a hurricane and likely will not be upgraded to one.
That said, tropical storms aren’t inherently harmless just because of the lower winds. They can produce flooding, heavy rain, and storm surges.