The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season has officially arrived, and Florida residents are keeping a close eye on Tropical Depression Two, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico late Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
June 1 marks the first day of the hurricane season, which runs until Nov. 30.
Tropical Depression Two is moving slowly over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The center is about 305 miles west-northwest of Fort Myers.
At its 5 p.m., advisory, the National Hurricane Center said maximum sustained winds are at 35 mph with higher gusts. It is expected to intensify and it could become a tropical storm Thursday night or Friday. However, the system should be short-lived.
Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are high enough to support tropical development. Temperatures in the central and eastern Gulf range from the mid-70s to low 80s. For a tropical system to develop, temperatures need to be in the upper 70s or higher, according to AccuWeather.
The first named storm of the season will be Arlene.