June 1 marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts until Nov. 30, but hurricanes don’t always follow a strict schedule.
Tropical storms can develop outside of those dates, and according to the National Hurricane Center, the season appears to be starting earlier than normal in recent years.
“Beginning this year, they will start providing some tropical forecast information beginning on May 15, which is 16 days earlier than in previous years,” Schwartz said.
Last year s record-breaking storms and the impact of Hurricane Sally
Last year’s record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season ended with 30 named tropical storms, including 13 hurricanes and six major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.