The National Hurricane Center has started tracking a tropical wave west off of the African coast just weeks ahead of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. It’s common to see tropical waves ahead of hurricane season, and this system is nothing out of the ordinary.

Historically, the average date for the first named storm in the Atlantic is June 20, just about a month away. While rare, it’s not unheard of to see named storms form as early as May. In fact, over 30 named storms on record have developed in May—a sign that the Atlantic can stir to life earlier than expected.

The first tropical wave has emerged off the coast of Africa ahead of the 2025 hurricane season. This tropical wave — a phenomenon defined by the National Weather Service as “an elongated area of relatively low pressure” — is not expected to develop or threaten the U.