Tropical Storm Dolly Forms in the Atlantic Ocean
Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, weather forecasters have confirmed.
Before it developed, meteorologists were watching one area of interest in the tropics.
That area had a medium chance of turning into a tropical storm.
It has now strengthened enough to be officially named Dolly.
A tropical storm is a rotating weather system with strong winds and heavy rain.
Storms are given names once their winds reach a certain speed.
This year's storm season is unusual because of a strong El Niño pattern.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern linked to warmer ocean water in the Pacific.
It often creates conditions that make it harder for Atlantic storms to grow.
This year's El Niño has been so strong that experts are calling it a 'Super El Niño'.
Despite these hostile conditions, Dolly was still able to form in the Atlantic.
Forecasters continue to track storm activity across the ocean during the season.
They study wind patterns, water temperature and air pressure to predict storm growth.
It is not yet clear how strong Dolly will become or where it will move next.
Weather agencies will keep monitoring the storm and update the public with new information.
Vocabulary6 words
- meteorologists
- people whose job is to study and predict weather
- medium chance
- a chance that is not very high or very low
- tropical storm
- a strong, rotating weather system with wind and rain from warm ocean water
- El Niño
- a natural pattern where the Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than usual
- hostile conditions
- weather conditions that make something difficult to happen
- track
- to watch and follow the movement of something over time
Quiz
Answer key
1. Tropical Storm Dolly formed 2. Make conditions harder for them to grow 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the _____ Ocean, weather forecasters have confirmed.
Before it developed, meteorologists were watching one area of _____ in the tropics.
That area had a _____ chance of turning into a tropical storm.
A tropical storm is a rotating weather system with strong winds and heavy _____.
This year's storm season is unusual because of a strong _____ pattern.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern linked to warmer ocean water in the _____.
This year's El Niño has been so strong that experts are calling it a 'Super _____'.
Despite these hostile _____, Dolly was still able to form in the Atlantic.
Forecasters continue to track storm _____ across the ocean during the season.
It is not yet clear how strong Dolly will become or where it will move _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think weather agencies give names to tropical storms?
- How might a strong El Niño affect people living near the Atlantic coast?
- Do you think it is useful for the public to know about 'areas of interest' before a storm forms? Why?
- What questions would you want answered about Dolly's future path?
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