Today (6/01/2012) is the first day of the Atlantic Hurricane season. The season runs from June 1 to November 30. The long term average of named storms during this period is 12 with 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds between 74 mph and 110 mph. A major hurricane is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds over 110 mph.
This year has already gotten off to a strong start with 2 tropical storms before the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. May ended this year after producing Tropical Storm Alberto and Tropical storm Beyrl. The last time there were two tropical storms before June 1 was in 1908. Beyrl also had the distinction of being the strongest pre-season tropical cyclone to make landfall in the United States.
September 6th, 2012 at 6:15 am
A little Hurricane Michael Trivia.
The long term average of Atlantic Tropical Storms is 12, Michael passed this average by being number 13.
The long term average of Atlantic hurricanes per season is 6, Michael passed this average by being number 7.
Hurricane Michael is also the first Category 3 hurricane, or the first major hurricane of the season.