Atlantic hurricane season starts with nameless storm for fourth year in a row

For the fourth consecutive year, the Atlantic hurricane season kicks off without a named storm forming before June 1, and there are no immediate signs of formation.The Atlantic Basin hurricane season spans 183 days, running from the start of June through Nov.30.Historically, the basin’s first named storm tends to form around June 20, with an average season producing around 14 named systems. However, in years that are expected to be busier than usual, named storms generally need to form before their letter’s climatological date to meet seasonal projections. For example, if double the average activity is expected, meteorologists typically look for the first storm to develop by June 10, followed by the second storm in early July.This year, seasonal outlooks from both Colorado State University and NOAA are predicting slightly above-average activity in the Atlantic, so to keep up with the expected pace, observers would expect 2025’s first feature to form before the average June 20 date.The quiet start certainly raises questions about when the first named storm will form.The absence of early-season activity is not unprecedented and has even been observed during some active years. In 2024, the Atlantic Basin experienced a lull from mid-July into early August without a single named system, followed by another break from late August into mid-September – periods traditionally known for tropical cyclone formation.In 2022, a similar lack of development in July and August set modern records for inactivity. Despite forecasts calling for an extremely active season, no named storms developed for weeks, primarily due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions.Meanwhile, the Eastern Pacific basin is already off to a different start in 2025.The region has already seen its first named storm, Alvin, and within the next couple of weeks may see its second, Barbara.The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has already highlighted an area to watch in the Eastern Pacific off the c...