The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway, as the NHC has named its first storm. Storm Andrea is forming 335 miles southwest of Bermuda and is classified as a subtropical storm. Currently, the storm is spinning with maximum winds of 40 miles per hour. NHC forecasters said the storm will strengthen overnight on Tuesday, before dissipating this Wednesday.
The NHC said the storm started out as a low-pressure system off the coast of Bermuda and formed a well-developed centre.
Storm Andrea has now become a well-defined low-pressure system.
On Monday, the storm began to move in towards the north of the Bahamas, prompting the NHC to launch an aircraft for examination.
AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski explained while the storm has been named, it is not an impressive weather system.
He said: “This is going to be a very short-lived storm.
“It probably will not survive past Tuesday night and will definitely be moving away from Bermuda by then.”
Mr Kottlowski said the water around the storm is still at a low temperature, which stunts low-pressure system growth.
In order for a storm system to gain any kind of traction, the water around it must be at least 27C.
As Andrea moves over cold water it will dissipate, and according to the NHC’s forecast cone, the storm will become a tropical depression by Wednesday.
Tropical depression wind speeds range anywhere from 23 to 39mph, with little to no impact.
Mr Kottlowski said: “The impacts [to Bermuda] will be gusty winds, brief heavy rainfall and rough surf.”
Those taking time out in the open water should proceed with caution, but the storm will come with minimal risks.
While this first storm is particularly weak, Mr Kottowlski advises this does not indicate the rest of the season will be similarly mild.
In 2018 tropical storm Alberto was the first to form, but it dissipated before it could make landfall.
In October the same year, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Central America and killed 74 people with winds reaching 160mph.
The next named storm to come in 2019 will be called Brian.