ORLANDO, Fla. – Even though this year’s hurricane season may feel like it’s off to a quiet start, don’t be fooled as the heart of the season is just around the corner.
Tropical Storm Dexter
The National Hurricane Center is now tracking Tropical Storm Dexter, which formed Sunday in the western Atlantic.
While Dexter remains disorganized, it’s still packing winds of 40 mph and moving east-northeast at around 10 mph.
Dexter isn’t expected to significantly strengthen in the coming days due to increasing wind shear and dry air. However, there’s a slim chance it could interact with a weather trough later this week and strengthen slightly.
Dexter is currently not a threat to the Eastern Seaboard as it moves into the northern Atlantic.
2 Other Areas
Meanwhile, the NHC is also watching two more potential systems that could develop later this week.
1. Central Tropical Atlantic: A tropical wave is expected to roll off the west coast of Africa on Monday. As it moves west-northwest across the Atlantic, it has a 50% chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next seven days. The latest outlook shows a gradual turn north, which should keep this a “fish storm.”
2. Off Southeast US Coast: Another area of low pressure is likely to form in a few days, a few hundred miles off the Southeast U.S. coastline. As it drifts west or northwest later this week, gradual development is possible, but the chances remain low for now — about 30% over the next seven days.
Season Outlook
On average, the first hurricane of the season doesn’t form until August, and, historically, most storms develop after June and July.
It’s been a relatively quiet beginning to hurricane season, but this is actually normal. The majority of tropical storms and hurricanes form August to October, with the peak typically coming in early to mid-September.
So while there may not be a major threat today, this week’s developments are a clear sign that the atmosphere is becoming more active and we can’t let our guard down.
The next named storms will be Erin, Fernand and Gabrielle.