Hurricane forecasters keeping an eye on the Atlantic

Is the quiet spell in the Atlantic hurricane season finally coming to an end? Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are keeping a close watch on two tropical waves currently moving through the far reaches of the Atlantic basin.

Tracking the Tropics

As of Sunday morning, both disturbances remained well away from the United States, situated in the eastern and central Atlantic. The first wave, located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, holds a 20 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression. While meteorologists expect some development as it tracks westward through the middle of the week, the system could encounter more hostile conditions as it approaches the Lesser Antilles.

A second system, located further east and still pushing off the African coast, is also on the radar. This wave has a 40 percent chance of organizing into a tropical depression within the next week as it follows a westward path into the eastern Atlantic.

Season Outlook

The 2026 season has been notably sluggish thus far, with only two named storms—Arthur and Bertha—recorded to date. Both were weak tropical storms that developed within the Gulf of Mexico.

Last week, NOAA released an updated outlook for the remainder of the season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The agency now expects overall activity to fall below the historical average, projecting a total of seven to 13 named storms, two to six hurricanes, and zero to two major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). For comparison, a typical season averages 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

For more weather coverage, you can check the original report at 205focus.com.