Tropical Storm Laura

At 0900 UTC the centre of sub-tropical storm Laura was located about 1015 miles west of Fayal Island in the western Azores.



Laura is not forecast to affect any land and is only a threat to shipping interests in the north Atlantic Ocean.



The storm is moving west-northwest at close to 8 mph. A gradual turn towards northwest, then north, will an increase in forward speed is expected tomorrow.



Maximum sustained winds are near to 60 mph, with higher gusts, but strengthening is expected and Laura could make the transition to a tropical cyclone today and become a hurricane by tomorrow.



Winds of 40 mph extend outwards to 310 miles from the centre. Minimum central pressure is estimated to be 993 mb.



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Subtropical storm Laura forms over the north central Atlantic...



at 500 am AST...0900z...the center of subtropical storm Laura was located near latitude 37.2 north...longitude 47.3 west or about 1015 miles...1635 km...west of Fayal island in the western Azores.



The storm is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest and north accompanied by an increase in forward speed is expected on Tuesday. Laura is not forecast to affect any land areas...and the system is only a threat to shipping interests over the far North Atlantic ocean.



Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph...95 km/hr...with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours... and Laura could transition into a tropical cyclone later today and possibly become a hurricane by Tuesday.



Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 310 miles...500 km from the center.



The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb...29.32 inches.



Repeating the 500 am AST position...37.2 N...47.3 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds...60 mph. Minimum central pressure...993 mb.



The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 1100 am AST.



See All NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ADVISORIES Below



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2008 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Atlantic

1. Tropical Storm Arthur formed quickly on May 31 off Belize, lost tropical storm strength in fewer than 24 hours, and brought punishing rains of 10-15 inches to parts of the Yucatán Peninsula, including Mexico and Guatemala.

2. Hurricane Bertha formed as a tropical storm July 3 in the far eastern Atlantic, then debuted as the Atlantic's first hurricane July 7 and quickly grew to major hurricane status. By the time it affected land, July 14 in Bermuda, it was a strong tropical storm, causing rough surf and 3-5 inches of rain. It broke the record for longest-lived July storm and on July 18 reformed into a hurricane.

3. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed on July 19 off the coast of the Carolinas. The first named storm to threaten the U.S. coast, Cristobal threatened 3-5 inches of rain and strong storm surges across South and North Carolina.

4. Hurricane Dolly reached Category 2 strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall near the Texas-Mexico border July 23, 2008. Heavy rains and wind led to at least one death, flooding and damage in Texas and in neighboring states that may exceed $1 billion.

5. Tropical Storm Edouard formed August 3 in the Gulf of Mexico and though forecasters predicted strengthening and it passed by critical oil infrastructure, it was largely welcomed for relieving drought conditions in some parts of Texas and Louisiana.

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6. Tropical Storm Fay formed August 15 off the coast of the Dominican Republic and killed 35 people there and in Haiti before making a record five landfalls in Florida, where it killed 11 before moving on as a tropical depression, killing at least one in Georgia.

7. Hurricane Gustav formed August 25 off the coast of Haiti and reached hurricane strength Aug. 26 before making landfall there. It has been blamed for dozens of deaths in the Caribbean, making it the deadliest tropical storm of 2008 in the Atlantic to date, even before it reached the Gulf Coast, where 2 million evacuated in preparation.

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8. Hurricane Hanna formed August 28 in the Central Atlantic and briefly attained hurricane strength Sept. 1. The storm was blamed for at least 163 deaths, and possibly more than 500, in Haiti. As a tropical storm, Hanna drenched the U.S. East Coast.

9. Hurricane Ike formed September 1 and reached major Category 4 hurricane status Sept. 3. After losing some strength, Ike regained Category 4 hurricane status as it made landfall in the Bahamas Sept. 7. It has been blamed for dozens of deaths in Haiti. It devastated homes and infrastructure in Cuba, and led to more than two dozen deaths in the U.S., after it hit Texas as a Category 2 hurricane and continued through the Midwest as a large tropical depression.

10. Tropical Storm Josephine formed Sept. 2, with both Hanna and Ike also active in the Atlantic, but dissipated before affecting land.

11. Hurricane Kyle formed Sept. 25 and hit the Canadian Maritime provinces Sept. 28.

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12. Subtropical Storm Laura formed Sept. 29 and forecasters said it could reach hurricane strength in the Northern Atlantic.

Remaining 2008 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names - Atlantic

Laura - Marco - Nana - Omar - Paloma - Rene - Sally - Teddy - Vicky - Wilfred

Hurricane Kyle hits Canadian East Coast with a Bang

Emergency and power crews in parts of Atlantic Canada were at work Sunday evening trying to restore electricity as tropical storm Kyle swirled into the Maritimes, its high winds toppling power lines.

Kyle went ashore just north of Yarmouth, N.S. at around 9 p.m. AT as a marginal Category 1 hurricane, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre, based in Dartmouth, N.S., downing trees and causing power outages.

As it moved north toward New Brunswick and was downgraded to a tropical storm, winds with gusts up to 110 km/h over exposed areas could still cause damage, the Hurricane Centre warned.

Nova Scotia Power said as of 11 p.m. ET some 24,000 customers were without power while another 10,000 has seen their power restored.

"We're seeing trees bringing down lines, whole trees topple over, we're seeing high winds," said Glennie Langille of Nova Scotia Power.

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"We are doing as much work as we can within the conditions that we have," she said, mentioning that work had to stop whenever winds topped 90 km/h. "We've been working throughout the storm when it is safe to do so."

Dennis Kelly of Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office said damage from the storm was not as widespread as had been feared.

NB Power meanwhile was reporting some 700 customers without power across New Brunswick as the storm moved toward the province.

The storm was expected to bring significant rainfall to most of New Brunswick where rainfall advisories have been posted, warning of 50 to 100 millimetres of rain falling in a short period of time, threatening to cause some flooding.

As of 11 p.m. AT the Hurricane Centre said tropical storm warnings were in effect for several southern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia regions, including Moncton, Saint John, Lunenburg, Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby counties and the Bay of Fundy area.

Nova Scotia Power had put its crews on alert "right across the province" and had enlisted extra contract crews to help out in the event of widespread outages, said spokeswoman Margaret Murphy.

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"The forecast shows a large severe weather system headed our way," she said. "Certainly experience shows it's best to be prepared, so we prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Murphy said the company had been putting particular emphasis on beefing up crews in the southwestern shores of Nova Scotia, where Kyle was forecast to hit land, with wind speeds roaring at up to 130 kilometres an hour.

New Brunswick power authorities were making similar preparations.

Kyle reached hurricane strength late Saturday as it swept through and soaked New England.

As the storm reached the Maritimes, it was expected be either a "strong tropical storm or a marginal Category 1 hurricane," according to Canadian weather bulletins.

Aside from the high winds, "dangerously high" water levels and waves are expected, particularly in the coastal regions under warning.

New Brunswick residents were warned to expect heavy rain of up to 100 millimetres and localized flash flooding. Water levels in various Nova Scotia counties, such as Yarmouth, were expected to exceed a metre above normal levels.

Combined with "dangerous rough tides," this is all expected to lead to shoreline erosion and damage to coastal roads, docks and buildings.

The Canadian Red Cross issued a warning earlier for people to be prepared in the event of a major storm. Bill Lawlor, director of disaster management for the Red Cross in Atlantic Canada, said in a statement the Red Cross is placing its 650 disaster volunteers and 15 emergency response teams throughout the Maritimes on standby.

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In anticipation of flooding and power outages, the Emergency Measures Organization in New Brunswick told the public to stock up on enough food, water and batteries to last three days. But Andy Morton, deputy director of the organization, says it's hard to tell how seriously the warnings were being taken.

"Well it's Sunday," he said. "I hope they are listening, and we hope they are heeding (the warnings) and time will tell."

"If you don't prepare and you get flooded, or your power is out, you will be disadvantaged," he added.


The spokesman said the impact of the storm could be similar to the devastation wrought by the ice storm of 1998. _Kyle is the 11th named storm this season in the Atlantic.

The hurricane already drenched Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Caribbean island of Hispaniola Saturday. Authorities in Puerto Rico said at least four people were killed and scores of homes were flooded.

Kyle is expected to hit Canada five years to the day after Hurricane Juan cut a swath of damage along Nova Scotia's East Coast. Between Sept. 28-29, Juan caused $100 million in damage as it unleashed winds of up to 176 km/h through Halifax Harbour, across Nova Scotia, and throughout Prince Edward Island.

The hurricane killed two people and nearly flattened Halifax's historic Point Pleasant Park, felling 70 per cent of the park's trees.

HURRICANE KYLE Continues to Blow Towards New Brunswick

Southern New Brunswick and southwestern Nova Scotia were battening down Sunday in anticipation of Kyle, the 11th named storm of the current hurricane season.

Kyle's track was expected to bring it ashore near Point Lepreau, N.B., just west of the city of Saint John late Sunday or early Monday.

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"Our forecasts have the storm reaching new Brunswick at sub-hurricane strength," said Peter Bowyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre.

He said current data suggests it will be post tropical when it hits but there was still the possibility Kyle could be a marginal category 1 storm with winds gusting to 120 kilometres an hour.

"The point we really want to stress is that the difference in strength between a category 1 hurricane and something a little bit less than that isn't really a lot," said Bowyer in commenting on the system's potential for causing damage.

Emergency Measures officials in New Brunswick were concerned that those living inland and away from the Bay of Fundy coast were not taking the storm warnings seriously enough.

"We're talking to people on the street and they're shrugging this off," said spokesman Ernie MacGillvray, noting the system is hundreds of kilometres wide.

"They need to understand there's going to be a whole bunch of impact and it could be a few days before phones and power is restored. So they need to be self-sufficient for two or three days."

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All of New Brunswick is under a rain warning while wind warnings have been issued for new Brunswick's Bay of Fundy coastline and most of Nova Scotia.

Heather-Anne McLean of NB Power said repair crews were on standby and neighbouring utilities have been called to assist if needed.

"Essentially we're in a wait and see stage right now but we are prepared," said McLean.

"We have to keep in mind with all the trees still having their leaves the wind could cause some issues around power lines."

Bill Lawlor of the New Brunswick Red Cross said they were checking equipment and supplies to meet any need that might arise.

He was urging area residents to do the same.

"For instance do you have pets? Do you have enough pet food? Do you have someone on medication? Do you have enough medication to get by for the next few days?"

Lawlor said households should have enough food and other supplies to carry a family through 72-hours.

That includes making sure there's cash on hand because any extended power outages would leave automated banking machines off line.

A hurricane watch was posted for Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby Counties in southwestern Nova Scotia where there are storm surge concerns.

"For the Yarmouth area we're concerned that as the storm is passing when the tide is at its highest things could line up and give some potential grief along the coastline," said Bowyer.

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Wave heights coming in ahead of Kyle were not alarmingly high at only six to nine metres, he said.

"But if they combine with the tide they could give an effective increase at the coastline of about one metre."

Yarmouth Mayor Charles Crosby said his community was ready for Kyle and by sheer co-incidence the local emergency measures organization had scheduled a planning exercise for Sunday.

"It's been in the works for months so the EMO forces are out there today anyway so if anything does come they're prepared to go.

Crosby said some floating docks had already been taken up in advance of the storm and the usual warnings about stocking up on water and batteries had been issued to residents.

"I think people here are ready and they know what they should be doing," said Crosby.

"People here are going to ride it out. We're lucky here. The storms always seem to bypass us left or right but they know they have to be prepared."

The world will be watching as HURRICANE KYLE heads towards land in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. For LIVE WEB CAMERA VIEWS of the New Brunswick Coastline

HURRICANE KYLE Blows through MAINE as it Heads for CANADA

Heavy rain drenched Maine on Sunday and fishermen moved boats to shelter as Hurricane Kyle plowed northward across the Atlantic, triggering the state's first hurricane watch in 17 years.

Hurricane Kyle could make landfall in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick sometime during the night or early Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

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A hurricane watch was posted along the coast of Maine from Stonington, at the mouth of Penobscot Bay, to Eastport on the Canadian border, and for southwestern Nova Scotia, the center said. Tropical storm warnings were in effect from Stonington to the coasts of southern New Brunswick and southwest Nova Scotia.

There were no immediate plans for evacuations in Maine.

Near the Canadian border, residents along the rugged coast are accustomed to rough weather, but that usually comes in snowstorms rather than tropical systems, said Washington County Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Hineman.

"Down East we get storms with 50 to 60 mph winds every winter. Those storms can become ferocious," he said. Down East is the rugged, sparsely populated area from about Bar Harbor to the Canadian border.

Many lobstermen moved their boats to sheltered coves, said Dwight Carver, a lobsterman on Beals Island. Some also moved lobster traps from shallow water, but most were caught off-guard by the storm's short notice.

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"I'm sure we'll have a lot of snarls, a lot of mess, to take care of when it's done," Carver said. "It'll take us a few days to straighten things out."

In Lubec, the easternmost town in the U.S., town workers pulled up docks on the waterfront and fishermen moved boats across the harbor into Campobello Island, New Brunswick, which has coves and wharves that offer shelter.

"We're getting prepared," said Lubec Town Administrator Maureen Glidden.

Heavy rain lashed the state Sunday for a third straight day. As much as 5.5 inches had already fallen along coastal areas. Flood watches were in effect for the southern two-thirds of New Hampshire and southern Maine through Sunday evening.

Authorities expect wind gusts in Maine to reach up to 60 mph and waves up to 20 feet, said Robert McAleer, Maine Emergency Management Agency director.

Residents of coastal islands were advised to evacuate if they depend on electricity for medical reasons, because ferry service was expected to be shut down Sunday, McAleer said. Power failures also were likely over the north coastal region of the state, he said.

At 11 a.m. EDT Sunday, Kyle was centered about 140 miles east-southeast of Nantucket, or about 355 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving toward the north-northeast at roughly 24 mph and expected to continue that track for the next day or so.

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Kyle's maximum sustained wind was blowing at nearly 80 mph, with hurricane-force wind of at least 74 mph extending up to 70 miles out from the center.

However, it was expected to weaken as it moved over colder water and was expected to lose tropical characteristics on Monday, the hurricane center said.

Maine hasn't had a hurricane, or even a hurricane watch, since Bob was downgraded as it moved into the state in 1991 after causing problems in southern New England.

The deadliest storm to hit the region was in 1938 when a hurricane killed 700 people and destroyed 63,000 homes on New York's Long Island and throughout New England. Other hurricanes that have hit Maine were Carol and Edna in 1954, Donna in 1960 and Gloria in 1985.

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions, with wind of at least 74 mph, are possible within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning means conditions for that type of storm, with wind of 39 to 73 mph, are expected within the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Kyle veered away from New England Sunday and sped its ripping winds and pounding rains straight toward southeastern Canada, the US National Hurricane Center said.

At 1500 GMT Kyle was moving north-northeast at 24 miles (39 kilometers) per hour with sustained winds of 80 miles an hour (130 kilometers an hour) with higher gusts, making it a category one storm on the five level Saffir-Simpson scale.

"The center of Kyle should pass east of the coast of Maine later today and tonight and move near or over Nova Scotia and New Brunswick tonight and early Monday," the center said in a statement.

The storm is expected to weaken as it passes over colder Canadian waters.

"The system should lose tropical characteristics on Monday," the center said.

Kyle was centered some 355 miles (575 kilometers) southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Canada posted a hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick provinces.

The Maine Yacht Center in Portland, Maine, which is likely to take a beating from the storm if not a direct hit, said it had turned off the electricity and fuel lines at the marina, just in case.

"We've turned all the vessels toward the wind and right now there's no panic," dockmaster Alexandre Hofmann told AFP. "Boat owners keep calling to check on the marine forecaster reports," he said, adding "We're OK for now."

HURRICANE KYLE Heading towards NEW BRUNSWICK

New Brunswick appears set to bear the brunt of a tropical storm that will be "just before hurricane force" when it hits the Maritime provinces late Sunday.

Environment Canada predicted Friday that tropical storm Kyle will pass directly over Saint John, N.B., bringing up to 100 millimetres of rain and sustained winds of 90 kilometres an hour.

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The forecast says there's a possibility of coastal gusts reaching 120 kilometres an hour in southwestern New Brunswick.

Forecaster Peter Bowyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre said that Kyle is difficult to predict because its strength may be boosted by weather in the upper atmosphere.

He said it's also possible the force of the winds and rain will be muted by the cool waters Kyle is expected to encounter over the Gulf of Maine.

"The details still elude us because it's all about what's happening in the higher part of the atmosphere as the storm gets a lot closer," said Bowyer, adding the centre has decided to take "the pessimistic scenario."

A system moving into the Maritimes ahead of Kyle will bring rain beginning late Friday and persisting through Saturday, with amounts between 10 and 40 millimetres.

Kyle is expected to enter the region on late Sunday, and add to the deluge in New Brunswick, southwestern Nova Scotia and western portions of Prince Edward Island.

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The storm diminishes further to the east, meaning Halifax and Charlottetown will likely see lighter winds and rain, said Bowyer.

All together, weekend rainfall totals for the Maritimes could be somewhere between 80 and 140 millimetres in some locations - depending on Kyle's ultimate path.

On Friday afternoon, the tropical storm was located about 500 kilometres southwest of Bermuda, tracking north toward the Maritime provinces.

The Canadian Red Cross issued a news release saying it was putting its volunteers on standby, as the storm is forecast to make landfall on the fifth anniversary of hurricane Juan.

"Being on standby essentially means being prepared, checking equipment and supplies . . . especially since Kyle could pack some hurricane-force wind gusts," said Bill Lawlor, Red Cross director of disaster management for Atlantic Canada.

"The Red Cross is placing on standby about 650 disaster management volunteers."

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The storm is expected to have passed through the Maritimes by Monday afternoon, with its remnants bringing rain and winds to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Bowyer said that Kyle is a fundamentally different storm from hurricane Juan, which started east of Bermuda and sustained its strength when it moved over unusually warm North Atlantic waters.

"Other than the fact they're five years apart, that's the only similarity. They're completely different entities," he said.

He said this time, the storm will move over cooler water, which should reduce its strength.

Nonetheless, Bowyer said "all of New Brunswick needs to be prepared for this storm."

He said the storm isn't expected to bring tidal surges that will threaten the coast.

HURRICANE KYLE Gathering Strength in Atlantic Ocean - Projected Path

The hurricane season still has a few punches left, it would appear. After the likes of Gustav, Hanna and Ike, Kyle is now on track to be a meaningful storm or hurricane. Currently, Tropical Storm Kyle is making itself different from Hanna and Ike in that it could hit the East Coast primarily. As the possible eleventh major storm to hit the United States this hurricane season, Tropical Storm or Hurricane Kyle could cause major storms for the East Coast this weekend. But Tropical Storm Kyle comes at the worst time for baseball, in particular.

Tropical Storm Kyle was spotted earlier this week forming 600 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. At the time, it had has progress of 8 mph and maximum winds of 45 mph. The potential Hurricane Kyle could arrive at the coastline this weekend, as it approaches the Atlantic with progress speed of 13 mph.

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As of 8 a.m., Tropical Storm Kyle was 500 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. Maximum winds were closer to 60 mph, as it is approaching Bermuda. The island could get up to three inches of rain, as the west of Bermuda could get the strongest winds.

The National Weather Service warns that Tropical Storm Kyle is building in force as it comes closer to landfall. Once it does, heavy rain could fall in the East Coast. By Saturday, Kyle could actually become a hurricane.

However, the much more dangerous hurricanes of Gustav, Hanna and Ike eventually decreased in power by the time they actually reached land. The hope is that a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Kyle would do the same thing.

Even if rain storms aren't so bad over the weekend, they may do enough to damage a heated baseball playoff race. Heavy storms are expected over New York and Philadelphia as the Mets and Phillies finish their battle for the NL East division title. Rainfall already arrived in Washington and canceled a game between the Marlins and Nationals. The rains could force the Mets and Phillies to play doubleheaders at some point and cause a delay of the baseball postseason schedule.

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HURRICANE KYLE AND CANADA
Some thoughts on Kyle as of Friday afternoon.......

1. Thunderstorms are still being pushed east of the storm center by westerly shearing winds, but I have looked at the satellite derived upper-level winds and it looks like Kyle will be moving into an area of much less wind shear starting tonight and into Saturday. If this is the case, the thunderstorms will be able to wrap around the center and the storm should intensify, probably to a category one hurricane. Kyle will also be moving over 80+ degree water through Saturday.

2. The storm is moving slightly west of due north and this should continue into Saturday before a gradual turn toward the right as the high pressure ridge to the northeast of Kyle begins to weaken.

3. Computer models are in pretty good agreement with the track, taking the center about 100 to 150 miles east of Cape Cod Sunday morning then racing it up into the Bay of Fundy Sunday afternoon.

4. Since Kyle remained buried down near the eastern Bahamas over the past couple of days the storm will no doubt be delayed up across the Maritimes. Yesterday I was thinking more of Saturday night and early Sunday, now it looks like the worst of the storm will be Sunday, but there will be plenty of rain well out ahead of it on Saturday as tropical air is lifted up over the cooler, maritime airmass.

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5. The strongest winds with Kyle will be on the right side (eastern side) of the storm as the wind flow will be lined up from the surface to high in the atmosphere, so this puts the south coast of Nova Scotia in the region of highest winds.

6. Water temperatures north of 40 north are actually below normal, so Kyle should begin to slowly lose its tropical characteristics starting Sunday morning, but due to the fast movement of the storm by then it will only have a short window for weakening, so I think Kyle will be a strong tropical storm when it moves into the Bay of Fundy, but I think there will be hurricane force wind gusts along the south coast of Nova Scotia for a few hours on Sunday.

7. Heaviest rainfall will be right along and just west of the track and probably up through southern and eastern New Brunswick, including northwestern Nova Scotia and western PEI with amounts of 50-100 mm.

8. Power outages are certainly a concern over Nova Scotia and PEI on Sunday, so be prepared for that.