Satellite image of Tropical Storm Cindy on June 23. Image: CIRA/RAMMB
Tropical Storm Cindy formed over the central tropical Atlantic on Thursday night, becoming the third named storm of the season.
Why it matters: It's the first time on record that two Atlantic tropical cyclones have formed in June in the area known as the Main Development Region (MDR), as Tropical Storm Bret remains active in the Caribbean, meteorologist Eric Fisher noted.
Zoom out: This notable development comes as ocean temperatures are at record highs in the North Atlantic and other regions.
- The warmth is believed to be caused by human-caused climate change, as well as prevailing weather patterns that have slackened winds across much of this region, per Axios' Andrew Freedman.
State of play: Tropical Storm Cindy was moving at an estimated 15 mph west-northwest with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph after forming some 990 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, per a National Hurricane Center 5am bulletin.
Meanwhile, the NHC said Tropical Storm Bret was moving at 18 mph about 370 miles east-northeast of Curacao, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
- Tropical storm warnings were in effect for St. Vincent and the Grenadines due to Bret's movements.
- The storm is expected to weaken during the next two days and dissipate by early next week.
Go deeper: Tropical Storm Arlene becomes first named storm of 2023 hurricane season