National Hurricane Center begins monitoring tropics ahead of hurricane season
Share and Follow

It’s not officially Atlantic hurricane season yet, but the National Hurricane Center started issuing tropical outlooks on Thursday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season beginning June 1, the National Hurricane Center has already started issuing daily tropical weather outlooks, which began Thursday.

That might raise eyebrows, but history shows tropical systems don’t always wait for the calendar to flip to June.

Since official records began in 1851, a total of 32 named tropical and subtropical storms have developed in the Atlantic Ocean during the month of May. Of those, four storms strengthened into hurricanes — rare, but not unprecedented.

Hurricanes That Formed in May

  • Unnamed hurricane – May 1889

  • Unnamed hurricane – May 1908

  • Hurricane Able – May 1951 (the first named May hurricane)

  • Hurricane Alma – May 1970

Most May storms tend to form in the Gulf of America or the western Atlantic, where sea surface temperatures warm earlier in the year. These regions are more conducive to early-season development compared with the open tropical Atlantic, which generally stays too cool for storm formation until later in the summer.


Why Hurricanes Are Rare in May

Despite recent years bringing more preseason activity, May hurricanes remain uncommon. The primary reasons are lower ocean temperatures across much of the basin and stronger wind shear, both of which make it difficult for tropical cyclones to organize and intensify.

Still, the NHC’s decision to begin monitoring mid-May is based on data — not the calendar. Conditions can change quickly, especially in the western Caribbean and Gulf. In fact, there was talk on starting the hurricane season in Mid-May several years ago, but it was settled to just start putting out warnings in mid-May.

For more information on the tropical outlook and hurricane preparedness tips, click here.


Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump on Juneteenth: US has 'too many non-working holidays'

Trump States that There Are ‘Excessive Holidays with No Work’ in Reference to Juneteenth

President Trump said the country is losing money due to the number…
Zohran Mamdani receives car bomb threat in vile voicemail — prompting NYPD hate crime probe

Zohran Mamdani gets threatening voicemail about car bomb, leading to hate crime investigation by NYPD

An offensive prejudiced individual left a hate-filled, anti-Muslim voicemail at state Assemblyman…
Mexican restaurant threatened after owner's daughter endorses Trump

Threats Against Mexican Restaurant Increase After Owner’s Daughter Supports Trump

Following the owner’s daughter expressing support for Donald Trump, the staff at…
RFK Jr. adviser denies being anti-vaccine, cites career developing vaccines

RFK Jr.’s consultant refutes anti-vaccine claims, highlights work in creating vaccines

() Dr. Robert Malone, the mRNA vaccine researcher appointed to Health Secretary…
Iran’s internet blackout leaves public in dark about war with Israel

Public in Iran is left without internet access amid conflict with Israel

As the Israel-Iran conflict reaches its one-week milestone, Iranians are experiencing a…
15 pairs of twins to graduate from New York high school

“New York High School Celebrates Graduation of 15 Sets of Twins”

Among the 447 seniors at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School…
Israel and Iran launch new strikes even as diplomatic effort gets underway

New Strikes Launched by Israel and Iran amid Diplomatic Efforts

Israel and Iran traded strikes a week into their war on Friday…
Elon Musk savages White House 'snake' behind sinister move

Elon Musk strongly criticizes White House person responsible for suspicious action

Elon Musk continued his conflict with the Trump administration while leaving Washington.…