TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The official start of hurricane season – June 1 – is less than three weeks away but the National Hurricane Center is already watching an area for possible development.
A broad area of low pressure is expected to develop late this week or early this weekend northeast of the Bahamas. Environmental conditions appear conducive for a gradual development of this system, and a subtropical depression or storm is likely to form this weekend
The National Hurricane Center currently gives the disturbance a 70% chance of tropical or subtropical development over the next five days.
“This isn’t out of the ordinary at all for the middle of May. Although this disturbance won’t be impacting us here in Tampa Bay, it’s an obvious reminder that it’s *that* time of year again” said Storm Team 8 Meteorologist Ian Oliver. “It’s time to have your hurricane plan ready to go.”
The first tropical or subtropical storm of the season will be given the name Arthur.
TRACKING THE TROPICS:
- Tracking the Tropics: Different stages of hurricane development
- Saharan dust Q&A: Densest plume in decades bringing hazy, colorful skies to Gulf coast
- Tracking the Tropics: How do hurricanes form?
- Tropical Storm Dolly forms in north Atlantic Ocean, no threat to US
- Subtropical Depression Four forms well off coast of Nantucket, no threat to Florida
