Early Atlantic Disturbance: An Uncommon Yet Possible Spring Phenomenon

The National Hurricane Center began tracking its first Atlantic disturbance of 2025 ahead of hurricane season. Although rare, some tropical activity can occur in spring. Historical records show only 41 tropical storms have formed January through May since 1851, with March systems being particularly scarce.

On Monday, forecasters from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began tracking the first Atlantic disturbance of 2025, several months prior to the official hurricane season commencing on June 1. While it is uncommon to observe named storms this early, NHC meteorologist Robbie Berg indicated that occasional tropical activity can occur in the Atlantic during spring months.

In 2024, the NHC initiated tracking its first disturbance on April 24, located approximately 900 miles northwest of Cabo Verde, but it dissipated due to strong winds. That year also saw a tropical wave emerge near Hispaniola in May. The preceding year recorded an area of low pressure off the northeastern U.S. coast in January, which was designated as the Atlantic’s first cyclone, a subtropical storm.

This year, the initial disturbance involved an uncoordinated cluster of showers and thunderstorms situated around 700 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. The NHC projected that this system would not strengthen into a tropical storm, and tracking was discontinued by Tuesday morning.

“NHC tracks non-tropical systems that have any potential to take on tropical characteristics, both inside and outside of hurricane season,” Berg stated, noting that the disturbance had a very low chance of 10% for development. He further elaborated that weather systems exist on a continuum between fully tropical and non-tropical phenomena, with the Atlantic frequently seeing non-tropical formations.

Since the inception of record-keeping in 1851, 41 tropical storms or hurricanes have been documented in the Atlantic from January to May before the season’s official start. However, Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University, affirmed that March occurrences of such systems are notably rare. The sole recorded tropical cyclone in March was a Category 2 hurricane that impacted the Leeward Islands and Caribbean in 1908.

The early tracking of the Atlantic disturbance signifies that while named storms are uncommon prior to the hurricane season, some tropical activity can arise in spring. Historical data reveals a few instances of early-season storms, yet March systems remain exceedingly rare. NHC meteorologists continue to monitor potential developments, maintaining public awareness during these transitional months.

Original Source: www.nola.com