Hurricane Season 2024: Area of storminess in Atlantic has low chances of tropical formation

Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post

A large area of storminess over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean north of Hispaniola could spawn the first tropical system this year, but chances are small that it will earn the moniker Alberto — the top name on the 2024 list.

The National Hurricane Center noted the spot of clouds and showers in its 8 a.m. Thursday, May 23 tropical weather outlook, which it began issuing four times a day on May 15.

Hurricane season officially runs June 1 through Nov. 30 but it is not uncommon for storms to form outside those goal posts, especially when the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are record warm, offering a never-ending buffet of fuel to a storm.

But the center is giving the area only a 10% chance of formation over the next 48 hours, as environmental conditions are not expected to favor the tumbling low pressure. However, the NHC says there is some slight tropical or subtropical development possible while the low moves northeastward through the weekend.

The 2024 hurricane season is forecast to be one of the most active on record with most predictions calling for more than 20 named storms. To help our communities get prepared, The Palm Beach Post is hosting a forum on storm readiness Wednesday, June 5, from 6:15-8:30 p.m. at Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth Beach campus. To attend, please scan the QR Code to register.
National Hurricane Center is giving low chances of tropical formation to an area of low pressure expected to form north of Hispaniola.
National Hurricane Center is giving low chances of tropical formation to an area of low pressure expected to form north of Hispaniola.

More: Post to hold community forum with hurricane and emergency experts ahead of storm season

First tropical wave of season makes it onto hurricane center's radar in daily tropical weather discussion

Hurricane forecasters are also watching the first tropical wave they have noted in their daily tropical weather discussions since May 15. The pinwheel of thunderstorms is about halfway between the coast of Africa and the Windward Islands. It is not being forecast to become a tropical system at this point and is one of only about 60 tropical waves that exit the coast of Africa this time of year.

One in 10 tropical waves, on average, develop into a depression, named storm or hurricane.

Following Alberto in the top three names on the hurricane list this year are Beryl and Chris.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's seasonal hurricane outlook will be released today at 10 a.m.

Check back to PalmBeachPost.com after 10 a.m. for the NOAA forecast.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: National Hurricane Center following area of potential tropical development

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