The National Hurricane Center initiated tracking of an Atlantic disturbance for 2025 on Monday, months ahead of hurricane season. While such early storms are rare, meteorologists indicate that spring tropical activity does occur. Historical data show minimal tropical activity from January to May, with March occurrences being particularly infrequent.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) commenced monitoring the first Atlantic disturbance of 2025 on Monday, ahead of the official hurricane season starting June 1. While it is uncommon to see named storms this early, meteorologist Robbie Berg noted that some tropical activity can emerge in the Atlantic during spring.
In 2024, the NHC first tracked an Atlantic disturbance on April 24, which dissipated after encountering strong winds. The preceding year saw a low-pressure area designated as a subtropical storm in January, marking the year’s first cyclone. The current disturbance consisted of a disorganized cluster of showers and thunderstorms about 700 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, which the NHC ceased tracking by Tuesday morning.
Berg explained that the NHC monitors non-tropical systems with the potential to develop tropical characteristics throughout the year. The recent disturbance presented a mere 10% chance of becoming tropical. Weather systems typically range from fully tropical systems, such as hurricanes, to non-tropical, like winter storms, and non-tropical systems frequently occur over the Atlantic.
Historically, since 1851, there have been 41 recorded tropical storms or hurricanes in the Atlantic from January to May before the season officially begins. Nonetheless, Phil Klotzbach from Colorado State University stated that March systems are particularly rare, citing the only recorded tropical cyclone in March as a Category 2 hurricane in 1908 that impacted the Leeward Islands and the Caribbean.
In summary, while the early occurrence of Atlantic disturbances prior to the hurricane season is relatively rare, it is not entirely unprecedented. Historical records indicate some tropical activity can happen in spring, though systems forming in March specifically are exceedingly uncommon. Forecasters continue to monitor these developments closely, reflecting the ongoing capabilities of meteorological science to assess and track potential storm systems regardless of the season.
Original Source: www.nola.com
