JOSEPHINE FORMS IN THE ATLANTIC

Tropical Storm Josephine formed in the Atlantic on Thursday morning, becoming the earliest “J” named storm on record and marking the 10th named storm in a season that’s already been brimming with activity.

The Atlantic hurricane season only looks to become more active in the coming weeks, with a possible barrage of tropical cyclones not out of the question as a highly favourable atmospheric setup for tropical cyclones looms.

Josephine earned its name two days after being dubbed a “tropical depression,” the precursor to a tropical storm. Its appearance on satellite improved on Thursday enough to give the National Hurricane Center confidence its maximum sustained winds of 72 km/h exceeded the threshold needed to pick up a name.

Tropical Storm Josephine beats out Jose, which formed on Aug. 22, 2005, as the earliest-named “J” storm in the Atlantic basin on record.