Hurricane Danielle forms in Atlantic, becoming 1st hurricane of 2022 Atlantic season

Hurricane Danielle formed in the Atlantic on Friday, becoming the first hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic season, forecasters said.

The Category 1 hurricane has winds of 75 mph and is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 storm over the weekend. Danielle is in the open Atlantic and poses no immediate threat to land.

The hurricane has stalled about 885 miles west of the Azores, forecasters said Friday morning.

It's the first storm to form in the Atlantic basin in more than a month. No named storms formed in August, which is only the third time that's happened since 1950.

2 other Atlantic disturbances

Danielle is one of three disturbances hurricane forecasters were tracking in the Atlantic on Friday.

One could strengthen into a tropical depression this week, meteorologists said. It's too early to predict if it could reach the continental U.S.

Here's what to know about the tropics as of 2 p.m. Friday from the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Danielle expected to strengthen

Hurricane Danielle strengthened overnight and has a ragged eye in satellite imagery, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is expected to meander over the open Atlantic during the next couple days, forecasters said, before slowly turning toward the northeast early next week.

It's currently almost stationary, moving west at a mere 1 mph.

Winds have increased to 75 mph, and strengthening is expected. Top winds could peak at 100 mph this weekend, meteorologists said.

It poses no immediate threat to land, and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect Friday. The storm is expected to start weakening next week as it moves north over cooler waters.

Read the full advisory.

Disturbance by the Leeward Islands

Forecasters are tracking a disturbance a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands.

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was investigating the system Friday afternoon, forecasters said.

Showers and thunderstorms have increased slightly since Thursday, forecasters said, but they remain disorganized. Any additional development of the system will lead to the formation of a tropical depression.

It has a 70% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days. The next available name is Earl if it strengthens into a tropical storm.

The system is expected to move slowly northwest toward the waters near the Leeward Islands. Heavy rain is possible over part of the islands during the next couple days, regardless of development, forecasters said.

Disturbance near Cabo Verde Islands

Forecasters also are watching a disturbance that's northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

The showers associated with it have diminished, and significant development is no longer expected. The system is moving northwest into an area with less favorable atmospheric conditions.

The system has a near 0% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days.

Read the full outlook.

Busiest time of the season

This is historically the busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season.

In the last 100 years, the tropics have been the most active in August, September and October, with Sept. 10 being the peak of the season, according to federal forecasters. About 80% of the systems that have hit the Gulf Coast formed during this time, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell.

So far, there have been four named storms this season - Alex, Bonnie, Colin and now Danielle. The next available is Earl.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30, but storms can form any time.

What to do now

Now is the time to review hurricane plans and make sure your property is ready for hurricane season.

Here are some tips from the National Weather Service for how to prepare for the season:

Put together an emergency kit. Here are 60+ nonperishable items to consider including.Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters.Make a plan with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in touch and where you will go if there's an emergency. Here's how to decide if you should evacuate.Plan your evacuation route and have an alternate route. Here are 15 things to do before evacuating.Make a plan for your pets. Here are some tips.If you have a generator, check it and see if any maintenance needs to be done. Don't forget these important generator safety tips.Do any maintenance you've been putting off on your vehicle.Review your insurance policies.Keep your trees around your home trimmed to prevent damage from broken branches. Here's advice from gardening expert Dan Gill.Have materials in advance to board windows to protect them from flying debris.

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Editor's note: This story has been updated with the 1 p.m. tropical outlook from the National Hurricane Center.