Hurricane Central

Tropical Storm Don 2017 Recap

Track history in July 2017 — Track history of Tropical Storm Don from July 17-18, 2017.

At a Glance

Tropical Storm Don was a short-lived storm that brushed the Windward Islands.
Flash flooding was reported in Trinidad.

Tropical Storm Don didn't last long, but did manage to become a relatively early fourth named storm and did lead to some flash flooding in a few areas.

(MORE: Hurricane Central)

Don became the fourth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season on July 17, as it was about 500 miles east of Barbados, after a hurricane hunter mission found a small low pressure circulation with winds of tropical storm force.

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This occurred almost five weeks ahead of the average fourth named Atlantic storm date, according to National Hurricane Center statistics.

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Less than 24 hours later, Don was already weakening, thanks to the twin nemeses of wind shear – the change in wind speed and/or direction with height – and dry air.

Just 36 hours after first being named, Tropical Storm Don degenerated into a tropical wave just before midnight EDT on July 18.

(MORE: The Last Tropical Storm Don, in 2011, One of Strangest Landfalls We've Seen)

Flash flooding was reported in a few spots in Trinidad and Tobago on July 18, even as Don's circulation was weakening.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Retired Atlantic Hurricane and Tropical Storm Names