Ready or not, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season is here!  The season officially began on June 1^st, and continues through November 30^th. In an average year, ten tropical cyclones develop within the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico.  Of these ten named storms, six on average become hurricanes, with two to three hurricanes becoming major (at least category 3) in any given year.

It has already been very busy so far in the 2005 season.  Two tropical storms formed in the month of June - which has not happened since 1986.  And, as of this writing, five tropical systems were named in the Atlantic Ocean by July 11^th, the earliest that has occurred since records began.  Tropical Storm Arlene made landfall across the Alabama and Florida border on June 11^th, and Tropical Storm Bret sloshed ashore in Mexico just south of Tampico on June 29^th.  Tropical Storm Cindy came ashore at Grand Isle, Louisiana early on July 6^th, while Hurricane Dennis made landfall in Cuba on July 9^th and near Pensacola, Florida on July 10^th.  Tropical Storm Emily formed east of the Windward Island on July 11^th.