Today is June 1, the official start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. Thus far, no tropical or subtropical cyclones have developed, which marks the first time since 2014 in which a pre-season tropical cyclone did not develop in the Atlantic basin. Regardless, the Atlantic is already showing signs of activity, and the Atlantic’s first named storm (Alex) will likely form late this week. This season will use List 2 of the six naming lists used to name tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. This list was last used in the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season. Here are the names being used this season and how they are pronounced:

Two systems to watch already on the first official day of the season

There are two systems currently being monitored over the Atlantic basin for tropical development. The first, and much more likely system to develop, Invest 91L, is a broad area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. The remnants of Hurricane Agatha from the eastern Pacific were absorbed into this large gyre, and it appears likely that 91L will redevelop into a tropical depression over the northwestern Caribbean or southeastern Gulf of Mexico within the next day or two. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) currently gives 91L a 70 percent chance of development within 48 hours and a 80 percent chance within five days. 91L should move northward into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by Friday, before turning northeastward towards the western coast of Florida and making landfall on Saturday. After passing over Florida, there is significant model disagreement on whether or not 91L will still be a tropical cyclone. Although sea surface temperatures are warm enough to support tropical development at near 28°C (82.4°F), southwesterly wind shear of around 25-30 knots (30-35 mph) is likely to limit significant intensification. Most of the thunderstorm and rainfall activity should be displaced to the east of the disorganized low-level center. It still remains unclear how well-defined the low-level circulation will get before it moves over central Florida and it will likely never develop into a classical tropical cyclone. In addition to 91L, there is another disturbance being monitored for possible tropical development north of the Bahamas. The NHC currently gives this system only a 10% chance of development, both within 48 hours and 120 hours. This system does not appear to be a threat to land, and no global model currently shows significant development with this system.