National Hurricane Center's 1st advisory of 2025 season should be wake-up call. Here's what to do
It wasn't a joke, and while the non-tropical area of low pressure well off Florida's coast didn't bring any subsequent advisories, it should be a wake-up call for all residents in Florida: Now is the time to prepare for the season.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes do occur outside "the season."
Here's what's happening today, along with a few suggestions on what you can do now to get ready for what's ahead.
No. But shortly before 1 p.m. Monday, March 17, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory about a "non-tropical area of low pressure" located about 700 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.
The system was not expected to develop as it moved northwest into an area of dry air and upper-level winds Monday and Tuesday. Both conditions inhibit tropical development. Formation chance when the advisory was issued was low, at 10 percent.
No additional advisories have been issued and the National Hurricane Center said Monday no further outlooks were scheduled unless conditions warrant.
The hatched area on the tropical outlook map indicated "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until a there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
Daily "tropical outlooks" will begin on May 15.
The exception, like what happened March 17, is if a system showing some potential for development pops up — even if chances are low.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared.
➤ New to Florida and hurricanes? Here's what you should know as hurricane season approaches
The Florida Department of Emergency Management offered these suggestions to get you started:
Make a plan: Make a plan that is specific to the needs of your household, including children, pets and seniors.
Know your zone: Is your home in an evacuation zone or flood-prone area? Go to Know Your Zone and enter your address to find out and learn the differences between various evacuation zones. Zone A is the most vulnerable and the most likely to be asked to evacuate first.
➤ Do you know if you live in a Florida evacuation zone? Here's how to find out
Know your home: How strong is your home? Do you live in a manufactured home? Is your home able to withstand strong winds and heavy rain? Generally, homes built after 2002 include features that make them more resilient to hurricanes. There are also improvements you can make to your home now to strengthen it against future storms.
Make needed repairs to your home now, including to the roof, windows and gutters
Cut down dead trees or limbs.
Check your shutters. If you need new plywood, start gathering and
Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts: You'll want to stay informed at all times so have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Officials encourage every household to have a battery-operated or hand-crank weather radio to receive alerts from the National Weather Service in the event of power outages or damaged cell towers.
Sign up now for local emergency alerts at FloridaDisaster.org/AlertFlorida
Sign up to get weather alerts via text from USA Today Network-Florida
Restock your disaster supply kit: A disaster supply kit is essential. Make sure there is enough food, water and medicine to last each member of a household (including pets) for at least seven days. For a checklist of recommended supplies, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Kit.
Since 2003, there have been 15 tropical cyclones that have formed before June 1. Eleven of those storms formed in May.
There have even been occasions when a tropical cyclone has formed in January. Here's a look back at a few of them:
Jan. 16-17, 2023: Unnamed subtropical storm.
May 22-23, 2021: Tropical Storm Ana.
May 16-19, 2020: Tropical Storm Arthur.
May 27-28, 2020: Tropical Storm Bertha.
May 20-21, 2019: Subtropical Storm Andrea.
May 25-31, 2018: Tropical Storm Alberto.
April 19-21, 2017: Tropical Storm Arlene.
Jan. 12-15, 2016: Hurricane Alex
May 27-June 4, 2016: Tropical Storm Bonnie
May 8-11, 2015: Tropical Storm Ana.
May 19-22, 2012: Tropical Storm Alberto.
May 26-30, 2012: Tropical Storm Beryl.
May 31-June 1, 2008: Tropical Storm Arthur.
May 9-11, 2007: Subtropical Storm Andrea.
April 20-24, 2003: Tropical Storm Ana.
Here are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them:
Andrea: AN-dree uh
Barry: BAIR-ree
Chantal: shahn-TAHL
Dexter: DEHK-ster
Erin: AIR-rin
Fernand: fair-NAHN
Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL
Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh
Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah
Jerry: JEHR-ee
Karen: KAIR-ren
Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh
Melissa: meh-LIH-suh
Nestor: NES-tor
Olga: OAL-guh
Pablo: PAHB-lo
Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh
Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en
Tanya: TAHN-yuh
Van: van
Wendy: WEN-dee
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America. NOAA changed its naming convention for the Gulf of Mexico after the U.S. Geological Survey changed the name on U.S. maps per President Trump's order.
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
We will start our daily tropical weather coverage on May 15. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NHC issues first advisory of 2025 hurricane season. How to prepare
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