Rare March Disturbance Forms in the Atlantic

March is atypical for hurricanes; however, a recent disturbance was reported northeast of the Leeward Islands with minimal development potential. Historically, only Hurricane One formed in March, demonstrating the rarity of such events. February and March are the months with the least recorded tropical activity, with May having the highest out-of-season occurrences.

March is not typically synonymous with hurricanes and tropical weather. However, one hurricane is formally recorded to have formed in March, which falls outside the usual hurricane season, defined as June 1 to November 30. On March 17, the National Hurricane Center reported a disturbance located northeast of the Leeward Islands, approximately 700 miles away. This non-tropical system is generating gale-force winds and disorganized showers and storms, though the likelihood of it developing subtropical or tropical features is negligible. Its trajectory north/northwest will subject it to unfavorable conditions, reducing its development chances to zero.

The only documented tropical system in March is Hurricane One, which emerged in 1908. This anomaly formed as a tropical storm northeast of Puerto Rico, traveling unusually southwest—a direction not typical for Atlantic tropical systems. Hurricane One achieved Category 2 status and impacted Saint Kitts and Nevis. Due to the lack of satellite technology at the time, meteorologists relied on indicators such as wind shifts and pressure drops to predict its approach.

While hurricanes are rare outside of the designated season, every month since 1851 has recorded at least one tropical system. February and March are noted as the least active months for such weather phenomena, followed closely by April. Comparatively, May tends to have the highest occurrence of out-of-season storms, with data reflecting 32 instances from 1851 to 2024.

In conclusion, March is not a traditional month for tropical systems; nonetheless, one hurricane in recorded history formed during this time. A recent disturbance reported by the National Hurricane Center shows little potential for development due to unfavorable conditions. Historically, February and March have been among the least active months for hurricanes, with May standing out as the month most likely to experience out-of-season storms.

Original Source: abcnews4.com