LOW CHANCE OF TROPICAL STORM FORMATION NEAR THE BAHAMAS… We are exactly one month out from the start of the official 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season, yet we’re getting an early start today with the National Hurricane Center announcing there is a low-end potential for tropical storm formation near The Bahamas over the next few days. Let’s be clear: This system will NOT directly affect Alabama or northwest Florida.
BUT IT’S NOT HURRICANE SEASON… This can be a bit confusing, but tropical systems and hurricanes can happen any time of year. The hurricane season is designated as June 1 to November 30 as that is the six month period when hurricanes and tropical activity is MOST likely. Is this early out-of-season development unprecedented? No. MANY seasons have had developments in May.
DISCUSSION FROM NHC… Here is the latest discussion from the National Hurricane Center. “A trough of low pressure located over the northwestern Bahamas is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Little development is expected during the next couple of days as the system moves generally northwestward toward the Florida Peninsula. Subsequently, some slow development is possible as the disturbance turns northeastward and moves over the western Atlantic. Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible over portions of the Bahamas and the Florida Peninsula during the next couple of days. Florida Peninsula = south Florida… NOT the Florida Panhandle!”
I’ll have updates on this developing system over the next few days. Nothing to worry about – more of a curiosity for us than anything else.