Forecasters tracking 4 systems in Atlantic, including Hurricane Danielle, Tropical Storm Earl

Sep. 6—Hurricane forecasters on Tuesday afternoon were tracking four disturbances in the Atlantic, including Hurricane Danielle and Tropical Storm Earl.

Neither of the named storms pose a threat to Louisiana.

Update: Hurricane Earl forms in Atlantic

The tropics have come alive after a two-month lull, with early September historically being the busiest time of hurricane season.

No named storms formed in August, which is only the third time that's happened since 1950.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico are expected to stay quiet for the next 48 hours, forecasters said.

Here's what to know about the tropics as of 2 p.m. Tuesday from the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Danielle slows down

Hurricane Danielle poses no threat to land, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of 10 a.m., Danielle was about 805 miles northwest of the Azores. The storm is expected to stay over the open Atlantic during the next couple days, forecasters said.

It slowed down Tuesday and is moving northeast at 6 mph. It's expected to pick up some speed later in the day and then turn counter-clockwise by the end of the week.

Winds are near 75 mph, and it is expected to begin gradually weakening during the next several days, meteorologists said.

It poses no immediate threat to land, and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect Tuesday.

Read the full advisory.

Tropical Storm Earl to strengthen

Tropical Storm Earl is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it heads toward Bermuda, forecasters said Tuesday morning.

As of 10 a.m., it was about 370 north of St. Thomas and about 595 miles south of Bermuda. It's moving north at 5 mph.

It has winds of 65 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later this week. Peak winds of 115 mph are forecast, which would make it a Category 3 hurricane.

No coastal watches or warnings are in effect, but forecasters said Bermuda residents should monitor the storm.

Read the full advisory.

Disturbance by Cabo Verde

A tropical depression could form in a few days from a system that's by the Cabo Verde Islands, forecasters said in their 1 p.m. outlook.

The system is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms from the Cabo Verde Islands to the waters several hundred miles southwest.

The disturbance is expected to move west to northwest at 15 to 20 mph. It has a 60% chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days.

The shaded area on the graphic is where a storm could develop and is not a track. The National Hurricane Center releases a track when a tropical depression forms or is about to form.

The categories, in order of increasing strength, are tropical depression, tropical storm and hurricane (categories 1 through 5). Systems are named when they develop into a tropical storm. The next available name is Fiona.

Tropical wave by Africa

Hurricane forecasters are tracking a tropical wave that's over western Africa and is expected to move over the Atlantic in a day or two.

Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for some slow development, meteorologists said, as it moves northwest over the Atlantic.

It has a 20% chance of developing into at a tropical depression within five days.

Read the full outlook.

Busiest time of the season

This is historically the busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season.

In the last 100 years, the tropics have been the most active in August, September and October, with Sept. 10 being the peak of the season, according to federal forecasters. About 80% of the systems that have hit the Gulf Coast formed during this time, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell.

So far, there have been five named storms this season — Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle and Earl. The next available name is Fiona.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30, but storms can form any time.

Storm categories

On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the wind categories are:

— Tropical depression: up to 38 mph

— Tropical storm: 39 to 73 mph

— Category 1 hurricane: 74 to 95 mph

— Category 2 hurricane: 96 to 110 mph

— Category 3 hurricane (major hurricane): 111 to 129 mph

— Category 4 hurricane: 130-156 mph

— Category 5 hurricane: 157 mph and higher

What to do now

Now is the time to review hurricane plans and make sure your property is ready for hurricane season.

Here are some tips from the National Weather Service for how to prepare for the season:

— Put together an emergency kit. Here are 60+ nonperishable items to consider including.

— Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters.

— Make a plan with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in touch and where you will go if there's an emergency. Here's how to decide if you should evacuate.

— Plan your evacuation route and have an alternate route. Here are 15 things to do before evacuating.

— Make a plan for your pets. Here are some tips.

— If you have a generator, check it and see if any maintenance needs to be done. Don't forget these important generator safety tips.

— Do any maintenance you've been putting off on your vehicle.

— Review your insurance policies.

— Keep your trees around your home trimmed to prevent damage from broken branches. Here's advice from gardening expert Dan Gill.

— Have materials in advance to board windows to protect them from flying debris.

Don't miss a storm update this hurricane season. Sign up for our free Hurricane Center newsletter.

Dan Gill's storm prep for the landscape: 7 things to do right now, and 5 to do if a storm is threatening

60+ nonperishable food items to consider for your hurricane prep kit

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