First tropical wave of 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forms off Africa's coast
The National Hurricane Center said the tropical wave formed on Monday off the west coast of Africa and is moving west. While the majority of tropical waves can develop into tropical systems, including hurricanes, the prospects for this first wave are dim.
Looking ahead to the upcoming 2025 hurricane season
Meteorologist Matt Anderson joins FOX Weather from the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay to discuss what to expect this upcoming hurricane season.
The start of the Atlantic hurricane season is still over a week away. However, forecasters are tracking the season's first tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The National Hurricane Center said the tropical wave formed on Monday off the west coast of Africa and is moving west.
The tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025.
A tropical system needs a few important ingredients to form, including warm ocean waters and the right wind shear conditions. There also needs to be a disturbance in the atmosphere like a tropical wave, also known as an easterly wave. According to NOAA, a tropical wave is an inverted region of low pressure moving west.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE?
The majority of tropical waves can develop into tropical systems, including hurricanes. According to the NHC, about 60% of tropical storms and Category 1 or 2 hurricanes in the Atlantic originate from tropical waves. About 60 to 70 tropical waves form each hurricane season.
However, forecasters are not expecting this first wave of the season to develop. According to the NHC, nothing is expected to develop over the next week.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1. The first named storm of this season will be called Andrea.
Editor's note: The statistic about the origin of tropical systems from tropical waves has been updated for clarity.