Tropical Storm Dolly forms in the Atlantic

A tropical disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday grew into a tropical storm and was officially named "Dolly," despite the storm occurring just days after the passing of Dolly Parton, a legendary music icon. The Atlantic hurricane season, which typically runs from June 1 to November 30, is at its peak during late August and September when warm ocean waters and weak winds provide ideal conditions for storm convection.

The absence of strong wind patterns, facilitated by a strong El Nino, has kept storm activity low so far this season. The National Hurricane Center explained that the timing of using the name "Dolly" for this storm is coincidental, despite the name having been on the list since 1953. While Dolly Parton's contributions to society were significant, the new "Dolly" is expected to have minimal impact due to wind shear, which will limit its ability to strengthen and eventually dissipate before reaching the Leeward Islands.