In the Atlantic basin, the National Hurricane Center is watching three tropical waves, including one in the Caribbean.

The NHCcontinues tracking three tropical waves that are moving west across the Atlantic and the Caribbean but doesn’t expect any tropical development.

Record ocean warmth in the subtropics may have a counterintuitive effect: fewer tropical storms across the planet so far in 2025.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two tropical waves in the Atlantic: Tropical wave 1: A tropical wave located at 37W from 02N-12N in the central Atlantic is moving west at 11 mph. Tropical wave 2: A central Atlantic tropical wave east of the Caribbean Sea has its axis along 57W south of 17N, is moving west at 11 to 17 mph.

Tropical storms feed off heat and moisture, and that begins with warm ocean water—at least 80°F (27°C). But it’s not just about the surface. That warmth needs to extend 150 feet or more below the surface to sustain a growing storm.

The first hurricane in the Pacific doesn’t typically arrive until the last week of June. Three have been named so far this season.

Hurricane Barbara has formed in the Pacific as the first hurricane in 2025. The National Hurricane Center is also tracking Tropical Storm Cosme.

Barbara is the second named storm to form in the Eastern Pacific in 2025. Storms that form in the Atlantic or the Pacific generally move west, meaning Atlantic storms pose a greater threat to North America. If a storm forms in the Pacific close to land, it can bring damaging winds and rain before pushing out to sea.

Atlantic Hurricane Season began yesterday. Most of the Atlantic basin is quiet for now with thick Saharan dust moving across the Atlantic Ocean. However, we are monitoring an area of disorganized showers and storms around the Florida peninsula.

Disturbances called tropical waves help form many tropical storms and hurricanes, but the atmosphere has other ways to kick start the process, including one recent Gulf hurricane that strangely had roots in Kansas.

Leading hurricane researchers are maintaining their forecast for an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.