Tropical Storm Fay | EN Weather Update

Tropical Storm Fay sets up a soggy Friday for the Mid-Atlantic

Updated: Friday, July 10 12:00 PM ET

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season just added another named storm to its list, breaking the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season record.

Tropical Storm Fay formed off the Carolina coast on Thursday, July 9, 2020. Over the next several days, Fay could bring downpours to the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast.

With high rain rates expected, flash flooding is the top risk associated with this system.

While most people think about a hurricane’s winds as the top threat, flash flooding and storm surge are often far more dangerous. You can learn more about these major weather systems on our hurricane facts guide.

Tropical Storm Fay’s Location

As of 11 AM EDT, Tropical Storm Fay was located near 38.4 N and -74.5 W.

This system had maximum sustained winds of 58 mph and was moving northward at 11 mph. The minimum central pressure for the storm was 999 mb. You can access all of this information on our weather map, Sferic Maps.

Tropical Storm Fay Watches & Warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Fenwick Island, Del., to Watch Hill, R.I. This includes Atlantic City, N.J., New York City and Long Island.

Tropical Storm Warning: tropical storm conditions are imminent within 36 hours.

Fay has a history of providing downpours across the Southeast.

The storm started as an elongated low-pressure system moving from the Gulf of Mexico into the Southeast. There it produced afternoon showers and thunderstorms along the way.

After interacting with the warm Atlantic water and particularly the Gulf Stream, the system then organized into a tropical storm.

Fay’s Projected Path

The projected path of this slow-moving tropical system will bring it into southern New Jersey today. Soaking rain, coastal flooding, beach erosion, and rip currents will be possible today throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

Then these risks will spread into Long Island and southern New England on Saturday.

Several inches of rain from this slow-moving system will be possible in the following areas:

• Delaware Valley
• New York City metropolitan areas
• Lower Hudson Valley
• Southern New England

Local flash- and urban flooding will be possible in low-lying and poor drainage.

Flash Flood Watches & Warnings 

Flash Flood Watches have been issued from the Delmarva Peninsula up the coast into southeastern New York, western Massachusetts and Connecticut. This includes the Delaware and lower Hudson valleys and greater New York City and Philadelphia areas.

Fay & The 2020 Hurricane Season

Fay means that the 2020 hurricane season is now well ahead of record pace. Tropical Storm Fay was the earliest formation of the sixth named storm of the season.

The previous record was Tropical Storm Franklin, which formed on July 22, 2005. That season ultimately tore into the record books with 28 named storms. 

Our meteorologists forecast an above average hurricane season this year. Their forecast calls for approximately:

• 16 Named Storms
• 9 Hurricanes
• 4 Major Hurricanes

But there’s no need to panic yet. Fay’s formation is pretty normal. It’s common for weak low pressure systems to along the Southeast coast or in the Gulf of Mexico to form tropical storms in July.

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