The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on the morning of August 28 that Tropical Storm Dolly was moving quickly across the Atlantic toward the Leeward Islands, expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Caribbean Sea by the weekend.
Dolly formed on August 27 with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65 km/h), accompanied by stronger gusts as of the morning of August 28.
The NHC warned: “Heavy rainfall from Dolly could affect the Leeward Islands from late Saturday into Sunday, then spread to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola on Sunday and Monday. This heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in higher terrain areas of the Leeward Islands.”
No coastal warnings or watches are currently in effect. The Leeward Islands stretch from the Virgin Islands to Guadeloupe, with the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Hispaniola is the island home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The storm's name drew attention on social media as it formed just days after country music icon Dolly Parton passed away in the United States, prompting questions about whether the storm was named in her honor. However, this is a random coincidence unrelated to Parton's death. Storm names are drawn from a predetermined alphabetical list managed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
For Atlantic hurricanes, alternating male and female names are used on a six-year cycle. Dolly is the fourth name on the 2026 list, making it the fourth named storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season.
Earlier this summer, Hurricane Arthur brought heavy rain to the U.S. Gulf Coast, while Hurricane Bertha made landfall in Louisiana with rain and strong winds. Earlier this month, Hurricane Cristobal formed but quickly dissipated.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. According to experts, this year's season has been less active than usual due to several factors. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts tropical cyclone activity in the region will be suppressed by El Niño conditions that emerged in June in the equatorial Pacific. El Niño increases wind shear, preventing storms from forming or strengthening once they develop.
