Epsilon Forms In Central Atlantic

(AP)  Tropical Storm Epsilon formed Tuesday in the central Atlantic, where it was a threat only to shipping, forecasters said.

The 26th named storm of the busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record was expected to be absorbed by other weather systems and shouldn't affect land, said Jennifer Pralgo, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

At 10 a.m. EST, Epsilon had top sustained winds of about 45 mph. It was centered about 845 miles east of Bermuda and about 1,395 miles west of the Azores Islands. It was moving west near 8 mph and was expected to continue that movement for at least 24 hours.

Its predecessor, Tropical Storm Delta, unleashed torrential rain and strong winds on the Canary Islands on Tuesday. Delta was expected to weaken on its way to northwestern Africa, reaching Morocco's southern coast later Tuesday

The 26 named tropical storms and hurricanes this year broke the record for the busiest hurricane season. The previous record was 21 storms, set in 1933. The 13 hurricanes so far this year also broke the record of 12 set in 1969.

The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but forecasters warn that tropical storms and hurricanes can develop in December, but no hurricane has been known to hit the United States between December and May.

Last year, Tropical Storm Otto formed on the last day of the season, Nov. 30, and lasted until Dec. 3. In 2003, two storms, Odette and Peter, formed in December.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the latest hurricane to strike the U.S. was on Nov. 30, 1925, near Tampa.

The relief that comes with the end of the season may not last very long: Forecasters say 2006 could be another brutal year, because the Atlantic is in a period of frenzied hurricane activity that began in 1995 and could last at least another decade.

Government hurricane experts say the increase is due to a natural cycle of higher sea temperatures, lower wind shear and other factors, though some scientists blame global warming.

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