We're two months into hurricane season, and so far, only three named storms have formed in the Atlantic Basin.
However, meteorologists say don't let that fool you: they say there's still time for major hurricanes to develop, and the conditions are just right for those storms to form.
"I definitely wouldn't let your guard down yet. It's pretty early," National Weather Service meteorologist Megan Williams says. "Looking at everything right now, we are still expecting an above average season."
According to Williams, we still haven't reached the peak of hurricane season, which is won't arrive until September. That's why Williams is urging Gulf Coast residents to keep their guards up as we get deeper into hurricane season.
"The conditions in the Atlantic are still pretty favorable for tropical system development throughout the summer," Williams said. "We have high sea surface temperatures, low wind shear, and other factors that are pretty favorable for hurricane development."
That, Williams says, could lead to a surge of storms in the final four months of the season.
"Even though we haven't had that many systems so far this year, there is still the chance that more systems could form and probably will form and that could be a concern," Williams said.
Williams reminds Gulf Coast residents to be prepared for possible storms before they become a threat.
"You're definitely want to make sure you have a hurricane kit and a plan in place. Items you want in the kit are first aid supplies, water for seven to 10 days, food for seven to 10 days. Don't forget your pets (and their supplies), flashlights, (and) all of the essentials." Williams said, adding that people should protect their insurance documents and other important papers before a storm. "Make sure to have everything in place before the storm happens because once the storm forms, you have very little time to prepare."
