This Earl Outlook from Friday, September 3, illustrates NHC's color-code for coastlines under Hurricane (Red) and Tropical Storm (Blue) Warnings and Tropical Storm Watches (yellow). National Hurricane Center screenshot.

2010 was a relatively quiet season for the Atlantic Basin and Gulf. As we entered September, only one Tropical Storm/Hurricane (Alex) had warranted a Presidential declaration of emergency or disaster. Bonnie bounced on and off shore in the northern Gulf, aggravating oil spill recovery operations but causing little other damage. Colin, Danielle, Fiona, Gaston, Igor and Julia spun themselve out in the Atlantic.

Things heated up when Earl reached Category 4 status on September 2, after leaving the Bahamas. It diminished rapidly, striking a glancing blow to North Carolina and Virginina and delivering tropical storm winds and rains to the Cap Cod area. Karl crossed the Yucatan as a tropical storm and intensified rapidly before making landfall in Mexico.

Hermine, which formed in the southwest Gulf came ashore September 6, as a Tropical Storm near the Mexico/Texas border, moving north through central Texas. EDEN delegate at TAMU, Andy Vestal, provided this brief report on September 9:

"We have pushed EDEN and TexasEDEN Web resources out through a network of almost 100 county Extension agents in 58 counties. During Tuesday and Wednesday the storm cut a swath about 200 miles wide and 600 long across the state. We had some significant flooding and flash flooding issues across the state with some swift water rescues and few deaths from drowning after entering low water crossings in vehicles. Several tornados touched down and we are still braving some flooding today but the brunt of the storm is past."

EDEN Response Notes - Should these storms threaten U.S. interests, the EDEN Response Notes system will allow delegates to informally share their storm impacts, preparations, and response activities, This is the best way to let EDEN and USDA know when help is needed.

• National Hurricane Center Graphical Tropical Weather Outlooks (RSS feed, below)
• FEMA Hurricane response and recovery site (watches, warnings, Presidential declarations)

Tropical storms are forecast by the National Weather Service and posted on the Tropical Prediction Center portion of their National Hurricane Center Web site. This site deals with active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Pacific out to 140°W. Predicted paths for three- and five-day forecasts are shown in graphic format under the "Maps and Charts" heading for each storm system.

As a hurricane moves inland, it may continue to produce torrential rains, and surge may follow the hurricane on shore. Watch for floodwaters that may rise hours and days after the hurricane passes. Two sources of potential flood information are

• National Flood Outlook from the National Weather Service
• Water Watch real-time streamflow from the U.S. Geological Survey 

For the most up-to-date information, see the NHC RSS feed at the bottom of this page. Or, for a more interactive, graphic presentation of data from NHC and several other sources, visit the private (non-government) Web site: http://www.stormpulse.com.