The Atlantic’s third storm has formed in record time, and it’s a threat

Enlarge / Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Southern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. (credit: NOAA)

Last year's Atlantic hurricane season ranked among the top five most-active years on record. Its third named storm, Chantal, did not form until August 20.

By contrast, today is June 2, and the Atlantic's third named storm of the year just formed. At around noon Eastern, the National Hurricane Center named Tropical Storm Cristobal-a system wobbling around the Southern Gulf of Mexico with 40mph winds.

This is the earliest ever in the Atlantic season (which, however imperfect, has records dating back to 1851) that the third named storm has formed in a given year. The previous earliest "C" storm was Colin, on June 5, 2016.

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