Rare Event in the Atlantic Ocean

Rare Event in the Atlantic Ocean(jpater) Hurricane Season in the North Atlantic Ocean runs from June 1 through November 30th.

The National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on Tropical Storm Alberto on May 19, 2012. Tropical systems developing during the month of May is very rare. Over the past 30 years (1982-2012) only 5 tropical systems have developed during the month of May.

The first tropical system that occurred during this period was Subtropical Storm 1. Subtropical Storm 1 developed on May 31, 1997. The highest maximum sustained winds with this storm was 50 miles per hour and the lowest minimum central pressure recorded was 1003 millibars.

In 2007, two tropical systems developed. The first was Subtropical storm Andrea. Subtropical Storm Andrea developed May 6th. The highest maximum sustained winds was 75 miles per hour and the lowest minimum central pressure was 998 millibars. The second tropical system that developed in May of 2007 was Tropical Storm Barry. Barry developed on May 31st. The highest maximum sustained winds with Barry was 60 miles per hour and the lowest minimum central pressure was 990 millibars.

The fourth time a storm occurred during the month of May was Tropical Storm Arthur which developed on May 31, 2008. The highest maximum sustained winds with Arthur was 45 miles per hour and the lowest minimum central pressure was 1004 millibars. There were five deaths reported with this storm.

Alberto is the last tropical system that formed during the month of May in the North Atlantic. Alberto formed on May 19, 2012. At the time of this write up the highest maximum sustained winds with Alberto was 60 miles per hour and the lowest minimum central pressure was 995 millibars.