TD-14 forms, next name is Melissa (then Noel and Olga)

TD-14 formed as of 11 AM in the Atlantic...it's still a ways off from land and because if formed fairly far to the north, it's almost certainly not a threat to land. It is expected to reach Tropical Storm strength, at least for a while, and therefore would be named Melissa most likely, unless another storm quickly forms.

On the other hand, Tropical Storm Karen, while barely hanging on, looks like it might recurve out due west, which would put it on a collison course with northern Florida or Georgia. If this atmospheric sequence of events occurs, the conditions would be ripe to turn Karen into a hurricane (or back into a hurricane, since it may have already reached that status). Although that would be a bad thing for the coast, that would be great for Atlanta (assuming it would make it here), as we DESPERATELY need the rain.

Speaking of Atlanta and rain, there are almost daily articles now in the AJC talking about our lakes, including Allatoona and Lanier, drying up which is bad since that is where our drinking water comes from. That combined with La Nina which would give us a dry winter, plus any dryness next spring, and we could have a catastrophe. Yikes. Already many lakehome owners on Lanier can no longer put their docks in the water.

I'm off to Alexandria in a few hours, then partying it up in DuPont Circle and Old Town. Also, GO HOOS! Peat Pitt.