When Does Hurricane Season Begin?

The official onset of Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Basin is June 1, with the offical season ending November 30.

However, there are numerous examples of tropical events in the Atlantic basin occuring prior to June 1 and after November 30.

The early season outlook suggests that the 2017 season will have slightly below average activity.

* El Nino Event: The Pacific based El Nino appears likely to return as a weak to moderate event during mid to latter part of the topical season (the most active portion of the season).

The occurrence of an El Nino event typically results in increased wind shear in the Atlantic, and such wind shear often limits or suppresses the formation of storms. Without that El Nino driven wind shear, storms are more likely to form and strengthen as they cross the Southern Atlantic without their tops being blown off, which often causes them to weaken and/or dissipate.

It should be noted that there remains some chance that El Nino may not develop as expected. Should El Nino not form, the result could be some potential increase in tropical activity over the current forecast.

* Sea Surface Temperatures: Sea surface temperatures in the northern Atlantic are a bit cooler than average. This can cause atmospheric conditions which are unfavorable for the development and strengthening of Atlantic storms.

* Other Factors: Many other factors, such as the presence or absence of dry air conditions in the Southern Atlantic, and large scale air circulation patterns also affect the formation and strengthening of tropical systems.

However......

* Regardless of the pre-season predictions, it only takes one storm event impacting your area of interest to make the season an unpleasant one.

* So it is important for all those with interests along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean coastal zones to pay close attention to any tropical systems which may possibly affect those locations.