Tropical Weather Discussion provides updates on weather conditions for various regions, including North America, Central America, the Gulf of America, the Caribbean Sea, northern sections of South America, and the Atlantic Ocean. This bulletin draws from satellite imagery, weather observations, and meteorological analysis.
Currently, there are three tropical waves: along 28W, near 58W, and in the western Caribbean near 81W. Scattered moderate convection is associated with these waves, particularly in the equatorial regions and coastal areas of Guyana and Venezuela.
The monsoon trough and ITCZ are promoting scattered moderate convection from the equator to 08N, primarily affecting Dakar, Senegal, and extending southwestward into the Atlantic. The Gulf of America is experiencing scattered moderate isolated strong convection, notably from 24N to 31N, with a squall line along 25N. These conditions are likely to result in strong winds and locally rough seas, especially as an upper-level disturbance enhances thunderstorms.
In the Caribbean Sea, the pressure gradient between the subtropical ridge and the Colombian Low sustains fresh to strong trades in the central Caribbean. This pattern is expected to continue, with trades increasing starting Monday due to a strengthening Atlantic high pressure.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, a broad subtropical ridge maintains moderate to fresh trades with 4-7 ft seas. Winds are predicted to increase south of 25N, influenced by the southeastward shift of high pressure, which will tighten the pressure gradient. A cold front is expected to push southward, bringing fresh to strong northeast winds and moderate to rough seas before subsiding later in the week.
May 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDTThe 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: 8 to 14
Hurricanes: 3 to 6
Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher): 1 to 3
Accumulate Cyclone Energy (ACE): 95% to 180% of the median
Primary Influencing Factor: Developing El Niño conditions expected to suppress Atlantic storm activity
This forecast indicates:
Despite the lower forecast, NOAA emphasizes that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to create a major disaster, and residents in hurricane-prone areas should still prepare as usual for the season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30Key: Active Past Future
*Press/click the storm name to view additional detailsDespite fewer total storms than forecasted, the 2025 season produced several extremely intense hurricanes, including three Category 5 systems, making it one of the more powerful Atlantic seasons in recent history.
2020 - 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.
