NEWS: Tropical Storm Dolly Has Formed in the Atlantic

A new — and very timely named — tropical storm has developed in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

©NHC

On August 27th, the NHC reported that Tropical Storm Dolly (yes, really) had officially formed about 1,555 miles east of the Leeward Islands.

According to the NHC, Dolly — the fourth named storm of this hurricane season — has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1007 mb. The Center reports that the storm could bring heavy rain to the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday; however, the NHC expects Dolly to degenerate into a tropical wave before it reaches the islands. That said, the storm is NOT expected to impact Florida.

©NHC

Now, to answer the question many of you are likely wondering: No, the storm being named Dolly has NOTHING to do with the recent passing of the legendary Dolly Parton. As the Associated Press explained, “Storm systems are named by procedures set by the World Meteorological Organization, and the lists of names are reused every six years. For the Atlantic region, the lists are alphabetical and alternate male and female names.” In other words, the name Dolly was in the rotation and would have been used in 2026 no matter what.

Parton passed away on August 25th after a short battle with cancer, according to her family. The iconic superstar had a long and varied career in entertainment. A guitar player since age 6, Parton released her first album in 1967 and went on to become the best-selling female country music artist of all time, selling more than 160 million albums worldwide. She also branched out into a successful acting career, appearing in several movies, including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, and 9-5. Over the course of her career, Parton won an Emmy, 11 Grammys, 10 CMA awards, seven ACM awards, and three American Music Awards. She also received two Oscar nominations and an honorary Oscar. She’s also one of only seven female artists to win the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year Award. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

©Taco Bell

Outside of the world of film and music, Parton owned the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where her name and likeness define the themed experience. She was also a celebrated philanthropist and was heavily involved with her Imagination Library, which mails books to children every month.

The Dolly Parton Experience at Dollywood

Tropical Storm Dolly, an aptly yet coincidentally named storm, has formed in the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. It’s not expected to make significant landfall anywhere at this time. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

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