The Atlantic Ocean is waking up as the calendar closes in on August, with at least two storm systems to watch and a third area of tropical moisture soaking the city of Houston. Meteorologists have noted that the Atlantic may not be far from cranking out its seventh named storm of the 2020 season, a feat more typical of mid-September than late July. It comes as scientists note that toasty ocean temperatures could help breed multiple powerful storms in the coming weeks to months. One of the systems late Tuesday morning was already teetering on the edge of tropical development, and the National Hurricane Center declared it a tropical depression late Tuesday afternoon. That’s the precursor to a named tropical storm.
Officially, hurricane season peaks around Sept. 15, but activity typically ramps up in August. Atmospheric scientists have already called for an above-average season, with some even anticipating a potentially hyperactive few months.