ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Hurricane Center on Monday identified the first tropical wave of the season just west of Africa, producing showers and thunderstorms.
While most tropical activity ramps up throughout the summer, it is not uncommon to start spotting tropical waves this time of the year.
A tropical wave is an elongated area of relatively low pressure that moves east to west across the tropics.
When conditions in the environment surrounding the wave are favorable, these features can lead to further tropical development.
Significant development of this disturbance is not expected, and this tropical wave is no threat to Florida.
In the Atlantic basin, tropical cyclones are known as tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. The status is based upon maximum sustained winds.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release its forecast for the 2025 hurricane season on May 22.
Earlier Tuesday the National Hurricane Center highlighted the first disturbance for possible tropical development in the Eastern Pacific basin. That is right on schedule as their hurricane season begins on May 15.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins about two weeks later on June 1.