Tropical Storm Omar forms, Nana to become hurricane before making landfall in Belize

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Omar has formed off the U.S. East Coast as Tropical Storm Nana approaches the coast of Central America.

The Hurricane Center expects Tropical Storm Omar to be short-lived. It formed off the coast of North Carolina and was heading out to sea.

Strengthening Nana was roaring toward Central America and is expected to become a hurricane before making landfall on the coast of Belize after brushing past Honduras. The National Hurricane Center said the entire coast of Belize had been placed under a hurricane watch and warned that people in Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula should closely monitor the storm’s progress.

It said Nana is expected to pass near but north of the coast of Honduras on Wednesday and likely reach Belize early Thursday.

Nana is moving west at 18 mph and has strengthened with 50 mph winds about 120 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. The system is the earliest-named “N” storm in history.

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Colorado State University professor Phil Klotzbach says Nana and Omar are the earliest 14th and 15th named storms on record.

The 2020 hurricane season is shaping up to be one of the most active on record. So far this season, Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, and Marco all set records for being the earliest of their respective letters to ever form. That means this season is on pace to break the record for most named storms ever.

The previous record for most named storms happened in 2005 when 27 named storms formed, including 14 hurricanes.

The historical peak of hurricane season has not arrived yet. That occurs Sept. 15.

VIDEO: Aftermath of Hurricane Laura (NCD)

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