HOUSTON – As a cold front moves in Wednesday, we're already thinking about how HOT the Atlantic Ocean is.
Take a look at this weather.com map:
Some water temperatures out there are already at 80 degrees! Why is that important? Because 80 degrees is the magic number for tropical storms to begin forming.
When the ocean water is 80 degrees to at least 150 feet deep, then thunderstorms -- or tropical disturbances -- can develop. If these thunderstorms begin to organize and circulate around a common center (thanks to the spin of Earth), then a tropical depression or storm blows up. That, of course, can become a hurricane.
Some forecasts are already suggesting tropical formation as early as May because of the warm ocean (last year Tropical Storm Alberto formed on May 19).
On Friday. we'll be talking all day about the 2013 tropical season with our hurricane expert Bill Read. Bill will be answering your questions live on Click2Houston.com at 11 a.m. and I'll have a special report on KPRC Local 2 News at 10. Make sure to tune in ... it's going to be another busy hurricane season!!