Memorial Day spoiler alert: Potential tropical disturbance roiling Atlantic | World News

While grilling grills and picnic baskets are being prepared for Memorial Day weekend, another exciting thing is happening across the Atlantic. More than a week before the official start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center spotted an early bird — a tropical disturbance — near the Bahamas.

The unexpected guest appeared on the Hurricane Center’s forecast maps Sunday afternoon, predicting a 10 percent chance of developing into a storm, heralding a different picture for Memorial Day weekend.

“While the Atlantic hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1st, our forecasters are on duty to make sure your Memorial Day plans don’t get caught off guard,” the Hurricane Center assured on Twitter. “This weak disturbance near the Bahamas gives a very low (10%) probability of early arrival of the 2023 Atlantic season.”

However, Memorial Day weekend might not be all sunshine and rainbows. While the tropical disturbance is unlikely to steal the show, overall atmospheric patterns in the southeastern United States are predicting some stormy weather, according to AccuWeather forecasters. Prolonged periods of instability are likely to be the uninvited guest of Memorial Day outdoor events.

AccuWeather meteorologist Andrew Johnson quoted the report as saying: “Whether this pattern of disturbance is tropical-related or not, the impact along the South Atlantic coast could be particularly problematic for outdoor activities ahead of and during the extended Memorial Day weekend. Destructive” – ​​Levine.

Interestingly, premature entry of storms before the official start of Atlantic hurricane season is not as uncommon as turkey at a Memorial Day barbecue. Over the past 50 years, 19 storms have formed before the season officially begins on June 1, with most of the “offseason” storms making their debut in May.

“While hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1, tropical systems are not uncommon in May,” Johnson-Levine said. “May has seen a tropical depression or storm in most years since 2010, and this year is likely to continue that trend.”

So when you’re making plans for Memorial Day weekend, keep one eye on the sky and the other on the Atlantic Ocean. It looks like the 2023 hurricane season may come earlier this year!