Tropical Storm Dolly forms in Atlantic, expected to weaken quickly
Tropical Storm Dolly developed Thursday in the Atlantic and is forecast to lose strength by Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm Dolly formed Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean, far from land, and forecasters expect it to weaken rapidly. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said it will begin issuing advisories on the storm and noted that environmental conditions should cause it to diminish starting Friday.
The storm is the fourth named system of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storms Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects a below-average season, forecasting eight to 14 named storms, with three to six reaching hurricane strength and one to three becoming major hurricanes, due in part to El Niño.
Storm names are assigned by the World Meteorological Organization using rotating six-year lists that alternate male and female names and are chosen for ease of pronunciation and regional familiarity. Names may be retired after particularly deadly or destructive events; the name Melissa was retired after a Category 5 hurricane in 2025.