Atlantic Hurricane Season Underway: Gaston Strengthens as Fiona Weakens

With Atlantic Hurricane season underway, tropical storm Gaston gains momentum.

ByABC News
August 23, 2016, 10:31 AM

— -- Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and this season's seventh tropical storm, Gaston, is gaining strength off the far eastern Atlantic.

Meanwhile, Fiona is barely holding on as a tropical depression as of this morning, moving west-northwest at about 13 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Fiona is expected to decrease in forward speed over the next 48 hours.

PHOTO: Tropical Storm Fiona can be seen in the distant northeast of this NOAA satellite image taken Aug. 20, 2016, at 12:45 AM EDT.
Tropical Storm Fiona can be seen in the distant northeast of this NOAA satellite image taken Aug. 20, 2016, at 12:45 AM EDT.

Gaston has strengthened over the far eastern tropical Atlantic and is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Gaston is moving west-northwest at nearly 20 mph, with a slight decrease in forward speed expected during the next few days.

"Even if it becomes a hurricane, it does not affect land," ABC News meteorologist Ginger Zee said today of Gaston on "Good Morning America."

All eyes are on a third tropical wave over the eastern Caribbean, which has a 60 percent chance of becoming tropical depression or storm in the next 48 hours, she added.

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