We're now less than two weeks from the statistical peak of hurricane season. After a relatively quiet July and August in a season expected to be busy, should we expect a packed September?
"A lot of hurricane season in front of us," says Louisiana climatologist Barry Keim. Keim says the things needed for tropical weather are still out there.
"With a season like this, where there's very little activity, that heat is just building," he explained. "The sun's energy is still heating up that sea surface. The sea surface temperatures are probably going to peak around September 10th."
That date coincides with the statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.
"The conditions are becoming more and more conducive, though, to have these things spin up," said Keim.
We didn't have any tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin in August this year.
Only twice before since 1950 had there been an August with no named storms before -- 1997, which featured a strong El Niño, and 1961 -- which had three category four hurricanes and two category fives in September and October.
The National Hurricane Center forecasts Treopical Depression Five will be a hurricane in the northern Atlantic this weekend, but it is no threat to land.
Forecaster are also watching a couple of other areas for possible development. None of them are currently a threat to the Gulf of Mexico.
