April 12, 2026, at 3:15 PM EDT
A Gale Warning is in effect east of 35W due to strong to gale-force N-NE winds and rough seas off Morocco, influenced by a pressure gradient between a strong Azores ridge and lower pressures in northwest Africa. Meteo-France has issued Gale Warnings for Agadir and Tarfaya until 13/12Z.
In the Gulf of America, a 1034 mb high pressure over New England is fostering moderate to fresh easterly winds and moderate seas. Dry conditions are predominant over the Gulf waters. Expect moderate to fresh E to SE winds with moderate seas to persist through Thursday, with stronger winds near the Florida Straits and Yucatan Peninsula.
The Caribbean Sea experiences fresh to strong NE-E winds and rough seas due to a strong pressure gradient. High pressure to the north ensures these conditions continue in parts of the Caribbean, with winds south of Cuba, the Windward Passage, and south of Hispaniola through the week. Winds and seas will reduce late in the week.
A cold front in the Atlantic Ocean bringing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms near 31N57W and southwestward. This, alongside the pressure gradient from a strong northeastern Atlantic ridge, maintains fresh to locally strong NE winds and rough seas. Elsewhere in the Atlantic, a broad subtropical ridge near the Azores influences strong NE-E winds and rough seas north of 10N and east of 40W, with moderate trade winds and seas south of 20N.
West of 55W, the Atlantic front will dissipate early in the week, while fresh NE winds and rough seas continue mainly south of 27N until mid-week.
The 2026 Hurricane season starts on June 1, 2026 in
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025.
Named Storms: 13 to 19
Hurricanes: 6 to 10
Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher): 3 to 5
Accumulate Cyclone Energy (ACE): 95% to 180% of the median
This forecast indicates a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30Key: Active Past Future
*Press/click the storm name to view additional details2020 - 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina (2005) - $125 billion
Harvey (2017) - $125 billion
Hurricane Patricia (2015) - 215 mph (345 km/h)
Hurricane Allen (1980) - 190 mph (305 km/h)
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating system that classifies hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and the potential damage they can cause. It helps communicate the intensity of hurricanes and the likely impacts on structures and environments. The scale does not account for factors like storm surge or rainfall, focusing only on wind speeds.
Watching the Tropics was originally built as a personal storm tracker with only the most important charts for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Numerous sites are available for tracking hurricanes, but Watching the Tropics minimizes extra "noise" and shows only what you need.
Designed in Florida by
"Watching the tropics" refers to monitoring tropical weather systems, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, in regions close to the equator. Meteorologists and weather enthusiasts often use this phrase during hurricane season to indicate that they're keeping an eye on developing weather systems that could potentially strengthen and impact areas like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.
Websites, news outlets, or weather services also use "Tropics Watch" to keep the public informed about the latest developments in the tropics, especially during peak hurricane season.
An "invest" refers to an area of disturbed weather that meteorologists are investigating for potential tropical development. The term "invest" is short for "investigation area."
When an area is designated as an invest, it is given a number (between 90 and 99) followed by the letter "L" for systems in the North Atlantic or "E" for systems in the Eastern Pacific. For example, "Invest 91L" would refer to the 91st area of interest in the Atlantic basin for that season.
The designation of an invest allows meteorologists to focus their resources on a specific area, utilize specialized forecasting models, and issue updates as needed.
A tropical depression is a type of tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of less than 39 mph (34 knots or 63 km/h).
Key characteristics:
It's the first stage of development in the tropical cyclone classification used by the National Hurricane Center, followed by tropical storm and then hurricane.
