SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – The fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm (TS) Dolly formed on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in the Central Tropical Atlantic Ocean.
According to the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten in its midday forecast on Thursday, TS Dolly was located approximately 1650 miles southeast of Sint Maarten with winds near 40 miles per hour. Dolly is moving westward at 24 miles per hour.
MDS says that environmental conditions are expected to become increasingly unfavorable for further development from Friday, August 28, and Dolly is forecast to be a short-lived tropical cyclone. TS Dolly poses no direct threat to Sint Maarten at this time. MDS will continue to closely monitor Dolly and conditions across the tropical Atlantic and provide updates as necessary.
Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson is calling on the populace and the business community to monitor the progress of the system over the next few days by visiting the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com website or visiting their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/
For more information on hurricane preparedness and to find a list of official resources, please visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart” or you can use the following link: https://shorturl.at/VbaxC
The remaining storm names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season are: Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Leah, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, and Wilfred.
Residents, visitors, business owners and operators should know the difference between a watch and a warning which will become invaluable as we approach the peak of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical storm conditions of sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour are possible within a specified area within 48 hours; a Tropical Storm Warning means tropical storm conditions can be expected within 36 hours. Tropical Storm does not have to reach hurricane strength to be deadly.
A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, with tropical storm force winds beginning within 48 hours; a hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, with tropical storm force winds beginning within 36 hours.
Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.
The hurricane season runs through November 30.
