Tropical Storm Franklin Alert Activated in American Islands, Threatening Puerto Rico, Haiti, and More

Several islands in America have activated the alert for tropical storm Franklin, which originated these days in the Caribbean Sea and could reach Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic between Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as other territories, thus leaving strong winds and torrential rains at various points.

As issued by the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC), Franklin has sustained winds of 85 km/h and is moving west at about 19 km/h right now, although it is expected that its trajectory changes to the northwest.

Thus, right now it is located about 370 kilometers from Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, the country that may be most affected by this phenomenon. At the moment, the country’s authorities have activated the red alert for 14 of the regions, including the capital, and the yellow alert for another 10 territories in the country.

In addition, the activation of its emergency committee has been announced and it has been agreed to apply the prevention protocols established in the country for these cases. In these regions, the country’s Emergency Operations Center has assured that Franklin is expected to deliver strong gusts of wind, thunderstorms and heavy downpours for three days in a row.

In addition, it is estimated that there will be waves between 2.5 and 2.7 meters high, which is why it has been recommended to the population that has “fragile, small and medium-sized boats” to remain in the port and not go out into the sea.

Likewise, the government of the Bahamas has also issued an alert for this same phenomenon in the Turks and Caicos Islands and it is expected that the storm will also cause heavy rains in Puerto Rico or Haiti.

Two other cyclones in the Atlantic

Franklin’s is not the only phenomenon that is located these days in the Atlantic Ocean. Next to him are two other cyclones: Emily and Gert, which, according to the NHC, show that the “relative calm” that characterized the first season of the year “has ended”, according to the Institute.

Even so, Emily has become a post-tropical phenomenon this Monday and is in the open sea, so it does not pose a danger to land. On the other hand, Gert, which has formed this Sunday after Emily, can become a remnant of low pressure or dissipate “at any time”, as indicated by the agency.

In addition, the NHC has also warned that, despite the fact that the only threat to land at the moment is Franklin, there is another low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico that could give rise to a depression or tropical storm and that has been detected also a new meteorological disturbance near Cape Verde.