It’s January and a Tropical Storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean

For the first time since 1978, a named tropical weather system has formed in the Atlantic Ocean.  At 4 p.m. today, the National Hurricane Center announced Subtropical Storm Alex had developed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

On average, the first named storm in the Atlantic does not occur until July 9...

Meanwhile, in the central Pacific, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is issuing advisories for Hurricane Pali, which has maximum sustained winds of 80 mph...

Warmer than normal waters, in both the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, attributable to El Nino (in the Pacific) and climate warming (both basins), may play some role in the intensity and development of these freak cyclones.