Tracking the Tropics: Tropical Depression 18 becomes Tropical Storm Rene, joining Tropical Storm Paulette

The First Alert Weather team is keeping a close eye on developments in the tropics.

UPDATE 9/7 4:41 p.m.- Tropical Depression 18 has upgraded to Tropical Storm Rene and joins Tropical Storm Paulette over the open Central/Eastern Atlantic. There is no threat to the U.S.

Tropical Storm Paulette

Tropical Depression 17 has upgraded and is now Tropical Storm Paulette. It formed over the central Atlantic Ocean, according to the 11 a.m. advisory.

Paulette, the 16th named storm of the 2020 hurricane season, is the fastest ever to get to a storm starting with the letter P. It easily beat the old record of Philippe, which formed on Sept. 17, 2005.

The large system will move steadily - but rather slowly - to the west/northwest over the open Atlantic this week into the weekend.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 18

Tropical Depression 18 formed off the coast of Africa. It is forecast to become a hurricane as it turns north into the open ocean.

“This system should fairly quickly organize & strengthen into “Rene” but should fairly quickly turn more northward over the Eastern &/or Central Atlantic. Therefore, this one is expected to stay out over the Atlantic,” Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh said.

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The First Alert Weather team is also tracking what will be a weak tropical wave over the Western Atlantic, several hundred miles east/northeast of Jacksonville by Tuesday. Another active tropical wave will roll off Africa in the coming days. It will stay out over the open Atlantic initially, but will be something to keep a close eye on next week. Buresh explains in more detail in his latest Talking the Tropics with Mike blog post. Click here to read.

Cox Media Group