The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, by and large, is expected to deliver just-about average activity, but June packed a heavier punch than usual as three named storms formed, including one that neared hurricane strength.
Tropical Storm Arlene kicked off the month as it began to develop into a named system on June 1 before reaching tropical storm status in the Gulf of Mexico on June 2.
Its tenure, however, was short-lived and the storm dissipated on June 3.
A quiet couple of weeks passed before Tropical Storm Bret formed in the Atlantic on June 19. It lashed islands in the Caribbean Sea with heavy wind and rain, and sustained maximum winds of 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, before breaking apart on June 24.
A Category-1 storm contains maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph.
Tropical Storm Cindy formed in the Atlantic Ocean on June 23 and eventually reached maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The system fell apart on June 26 before its remnants nearly re-formed days after.
“So far, seasonal activity has been above average based on the 30-year climatology (1991-2020), where a named storm typically forms about once every year in June,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in its tropical weather summary.
Hurricane forecasters expect this year’s season to be near average. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a prediction calling for between 12 and 17 named storms with winds of at least 39 mph, between five and nine hurricanes and one to four hurricanes reaching Category 3 status.
AccuWeather, meanwhile, predicted 2023 will contain between 11 and 15 named storms, with four to eight of those storms reaching hurricane strength.
One to three of those hurricanes will reach devastating Category 3 status of at least 111 mph, their forecast said.
One year ago, the season got off to a slow start before a total of 14 named storms formed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Still, the season brought destructive power as Hurricane Ian became one of the deadliest and costliest storms to ever hit the country.
Storm activity was prolific in 2020 and 2021, reaching record levels.
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