National Hurricane Center tracking 3 tropical waves, including 1 in Caribbean
Conditions remain quiet in the tropics, with nothing showing on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map.
No tropical cyclone development is expected over the next seven days.
AccuWeather meteorologists are tracking the potential for activity to increase in the western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico later this month.
AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring a broad area of tropical downpours in the Caribbean and tracking the potential for activity to increase in the western Caribbean and the Gulf later this month.
Tropical development historically happens close to North America and Central America in June, according to AccuWeather.
The next name for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will be Bret.
El Niño is officially back. The climate pattern in the Pacific usually limits the formation of hurricanes in the tropical Atlantic by tearing them apart.
This year, though, El Niño is facing off against very warm water conditions, which support and help tropical cyclones develop.
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8 a.m. June 12:
What's out there and where are they?
Tropical wave 1: A tropical wave in the central Atlantic is located between French Guiana and Sierra Leone. It's moving west at 12 mph. Exact location: 36W and extending south from 11N.
Tropical wave 2: A tropical wave in the western Atlantic is located east of Barbados. It's moving west at 12 mph. Exact Location: 57W and extending south from 13N into Suriname.
Tropical wave 3: A tropical wave in the Caribbean is located south of Jamaica. It's moving west at 11 mph. Exact location: 75W and extending south from 13N into Colombia.
What is a tropical wave?
A tropical wave, also known as an easterly wave, is an elongated area of relatively low pressure that moves from east to west across the tropics. To the west of the system, there is often good weather. To the east, though, cloudiness and heavy rain are often found.
Tropical waves can lead to the formation of a tropical cyclone, according to NOAA.
Who is likely to be impacted?
It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to the U.S. from the tropical waves.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a natural climate pattern in which surface sea water temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are warmer than average. It occurs, on average, every two to seven years.
El Niño is back: NOAA says. Will it help fuel Earth's hottest year on record?
Here's what the return of El Niño means for hurricane season and Florida
El Niño usually helps to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, experts say.
El Niño “tends to lead to an increase in vertical wind shear, which tends to reduce the number of hurricanes in the tropical Atlantic,” said David DeWitt, director of the Climate Prediction Center.
But this year, forecasters say that may not happen, because of record hot Atlantic water temperatures that would counteract the El Niño winds that normally decapitate many storms.
While El Niño can't completely prevent hurricanes in the Atlantic, it often serves to limit hurricane formation and reduce hurricane landfalls along the East Coast, giving Florida and other hurricane-prone areas a break.
NOAA hurricane season forecast: NOAA predicts 'near normal' hurricane season with 12-17 named storms and 5-9 hurricanes
Weather watches and warnings issued for your area
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
Tropical forecast over the next seven days
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's out there?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.
What's next?
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Contributor: Doyle Rice
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tropics watch: NHC tracking 3 tropical waves, 1 in Caribbean
