Subtropical depression forms before hurricane season

The first subtropical depression of the year has been reported more than a month before the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on 1 June.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami, Florida, said at 11am yesterday that the centre of the system – which has maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour – had formed between Bermuda and the Azores in the Central Atlantic.

At present there is no threat to land and it is expected to be pass shortly.

After little change in the strength throughout Wednesday, the centre believes the subtropical depression will be absorbed by a large extratropical low today.

“A non-tropical storm will sweep in prior to the end of the week and should create a more hostile atmosphere for strengthening,” said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

To become a hurricane, the system’s sustained winds would need to increase to approximately 39 miles per hour.

This system is the first April subtropical cyclone in the Atlantic since Ana in 2003, and 2017 is the third consecutive year a system has formed in the ocean before the official start of the season.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June 1 to 30 November 30.

Subtropical Depression One has formed in the central Atlantic and is no threat to land. Full advisory: https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/19TYPhW04y

— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) April 19, 2017