Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Atlantic’s Next Tropical Storm Will Be Named Dolly
Weather experts are watching a group of thunderstorms in the Atlantic near the Cabo Verde Islands.
The system might grow into a tropical storm during the next week.
If its winds reach 39 mph, it will be called Dolly.
The name was chosen before the storm formed.
It is not connected to Dolly Parton’s reported death.
Atlantic storm names follow an alphabetical list that alternates between male and female names.
These lists are reused every six years.
Storms are named so people can communicate warnings clearly and avoid confusion.
Another system northeast of Bermuda was considered unlikely to develop.
The next Atlantic tropical storm to meet naming criteria would be called Dolly.
Forecasters were monitoring thunderstorms south of the Cabo Verde Islands that could become a tropical depression within a week.
The system would receive the Dolly name if its sustained winds reach at least 39 mph (63 kph).
The name is unrelated to Dolly Parton’s reported death and comes from a predetermined storm-name list.
NOAA forecast a below-average season with eight to 14 named storms because of El Niño.
- Who
- The National Hurricane Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the World Meteorological Organization are involved in monitoring or naming the system.
- What
- A weather system could become the Atlantic’s next named tropical storm, which would be called Dolly if it reaches the required wind speed.
- When
- Forecasters discussed the system on Tuesday evening, August 26, and said it could become a tropical depression within the next week.
- Where
- The system is in thunderstorms south of the Cabo Verde Islands, off the coast of Africa.
- Why
- Storms are given names to make warnings easier to communicate and prevent confusion; the name Dolly is unrelated to Dolly Parton’s reported death.
- Potential storm name
- Dolly
- Naming threshold
- Maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph (63 kph)
- Area being monitored
- Thunderstorms south of the Cabo Verde Islands
- Season forecast
- Eight to 14 named storms
- Hurricane forecast
- Three to six storms reaching hurricane strength
- Major hurricane forecast
- One to three storms intensifying into major hurricanes
- Forecast factor
- El Niño
- Storm-name system
- Atlantic names follow an alphabetical list alternating male and female names, reused every six years
