Hurricane Chief Leaves Eye of the Storm

Ana is the season's first named system; Bill could morph into a hurricane

(NEWSER) - Ana and Bill are on the move, but meteorologists aren't worried just yet, the Miami Herald reports. Both tropical storms formed in the Atlantic today and are moving westward, but a possible US landing is 5 or more days away. The National Hurricane Center says they could strike anywhere from South Carolina to Cuba. “We want people to watch the tropics, but we don't want them to push the panic button,” said one official. More»

(AP) - A new El Nino could be approaching. Sea-surface temperatures have been warming in the tropical Pacific Ocean, suggesting the potential for the development of the El Niño climate phenomenon in the next three months, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. More»

Staff demands director's ouster

(NEWSER) - A near-mutiny has erupted at the National Hurricane Center, where nearly half the staff has demanded the resignation of the center's director, Bill Proenza. The Miami Herald reports that seven forecasters and 16 other employees—including Proenza's own administrative assistant—signed a statement calling for his ouster. More»

Year's first storm forms before start of hurricane season

(NEWSER) - With 12 days left before the official start of hurricane season, Tropical Storm Alberto has formed about 95 miles off the coast of South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. Thus far, Alberto isn't expected to make landfall, but he's got his own tropical storm warning and could mean some high winds, waves, rip tides, and rain for the area. He'll likely head out to sea and fizzle, reports the AP . More»

Nate expected to hit Mexico, while Maria churns in Caribbean

(NEWSER) - Irene, Katia, and Lee all made not-so-nice headlines, and unfortunately there’s more where they came from: Tropical Storms Nate and Maria are currently taking shape in the Caribbean and Atlantic. Nate, formed in the southern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to drop anywhere from 2 to 8 inches of rain on parts of Mexico, and could start moving north by tomorrow—by which point it could also strengthen into a hurricane. More»