Early start for Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical storm Cindy has formed behind tropical storm Bret, in the first case of two storms in the tropical Atlantic in June since record keeping began.

The historic event signals an early and aggressive start to the Atlantic hurricane season that began June 1 and whose peak usually runs from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters blamed unusually high sea temperatures for the rare development.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Miami has forecast 12 to 17 named storms for this year’s hurricane season. It said between five and nine of those storms could become hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher. – Full report