Early-season activity may indicate an above-average hurricane season in Louisiana. What to know
Saturday, June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, and this year is forecasted to see an above-average number of storms.
As of June 2, the National Hurricane Center has highlighted an area off of the southeast coast of Florida, and the U.S., for tropical cyclone activity.
The storm system currently has a low chance of developing, however, rain and thunderstorms are expected to impact Florida in the following days.
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring a tropical wave off the cost of Africa, south of Cabo Verde, that's moving west at 17 mph.
Dust from the Sahara is currently being carried westward across the Atlantic Ocean, and strong winds can transport this dust further to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. This dust can help prevent tropical storms from developing or strengthening.
In June, tropical storms typically develop close to the U.S., off of the southeast coast, in the Gulf Coast or in the Caribbean. Later in the season, storms usually form out of tropical waves moving off the coast of Africa, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Early tropical storm activity can indicate an active hurricane season, although, this is not a definitive predictor. While early activity can suggest a more active season, it's possible that an active June and July can be followed by a quieter year, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Peak hurricane activity is usually from mid-August until mid-October and, in some cases, hurricane season may have a quiet start in June and July, but see an increase of activity later in the season, says the NOAA.
The NOAA has predicted this hurricane season to be above-normal, citing a number of factors for an above-average season, including continued ENSO-neutral conditions, warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What does early tropical storm activity mean for hurricane season?
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