The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that it is keeping an eye on a new weather disturbance in the central Atlantic Ocean.

This region of low pressure may develop in the central Tropical Atlantic in the coming days. The NHC indicated that overall conditions seem “generally favorable” for gradual development of this system over the weekend and into early next week.

The disturbance is expected to travel towards the west and west-northwest at speeds of 10 to 15 miles per hour. The NHC has assessed a chance of 20 percent for this system to form over the next week.

Atlantic Storm Tracker

Unusually Calm Conditions in the Atlantic

This year has seen more storm activity in the Pacific than in the Atlantic, which has surprised forecasters. The Atlantic has experienced an unusually quiet week as we approach the traditional peak of hurricane season.

Phil Klotzbach, a meteorologist from Colorado State University, commented, “It is surprisingly quiet out there.” He mentioned that such a calm period without named storms from August 21 to September 2 has not occurred in the Atlantic since 1997.

Active Pacific Storms

Meanwhile, about 1,260 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, Hurricane Gilma is expected to continue moving west-northwest and speed up by Tuesday evening, according to forecasts.

The storm was tracking west at around 8 miles per hour on Monday evening, with maximum sustained winds decreasing to 100 mph. The NHC noted that Gilma is likely to “remain a hurricane as it approaches the central Pacific basin,” even as it gradually weakens.

This storm follows Tropical Storm Hone, which crossed south of the Big Island as a Category 1 hurricane over the weekend, delivering heavy rainfall, with some regions receiving up to 18 inches. Hone later weakened into a tropical storm while moving west of Hawaii.

Severe weather resulted in flooded roads and power outages affecting thousands of residents and businesses. Several beaches on the Big Island were closed, and five public schools canceled classes due to hazardous conditions. Fortunately, significant damage was not reported.

If Gilma positions itself close enough soon, it would mark the first instance since 1992 of two named storms being within 300 miles of the main Hawaiian islands in one week, according to AccuWeather.

A third system, named Hector, reached tropical storm status on Sunday, developing about 1,000 miles west of Baja California, reported the NHC.

Hector is located east of Gilma and was generating sustained winds of up to 65 mph on Monday, moving west at 13 mph. Forecasters expect it to gradually strengthen over the next few days.