Tropical Storm Dean

Looks like the fourth Atlantic tropical storm has formed, Tropical Storm Dean. The NHC is predicting it might become a Category 2 hurricane when it gets to Puerto Rico. It’s possible that it might swing north to hit Florida. This would be the year’s first hurricane. At this time last year, which was historically a low year despite pre-season warnings that it would be historically very high, there had been three tropical storms. This year is, again, predicted to be a historically high season, primarily due to the Atlantic Multidecadal Cycle wherein warm water in the Atlantic Ocean travels in a large band over decades.