Rare hurricane hits Cape Verde
Although Tropical Storm Erika dissipated before coming close to the United States mainland, the Atlantic hurricane basin is not entirely quiet. Earlier this week, Hurricane Fred became the first known tropical cyclone to strike the Cape Verde Islands while at hurricane strength in over 100 years. Fred passed through the group of islands in the eastern Atlantic on Monday with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h)—strong enough to be considered a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Thus, Fred became the first known hurricane to impact Cape Verde since 1892.
After yesterday’s high temperature of 90°F (32°C), a frontal passage this afternoon will bring temperatures back down to more seasonable levels for the weekend. A shower or thunderstorm is possible during the afternoon and evening as the cold front passes through from the northwest.
Behind the front, temperatures will be moderated by the cooler air mass rushing in, and by a stiff northeasterly breeze coming in off of the 69°F (21°C) Massachusetts Bay. After a breezy, but mostly sunny day on Friday, things will calm down a bit, yielding sunny and pleasant weather for the remainder of the Labor Day weekend.