SEE: 1st tropical wave of the year rolls off the coast of Africa

ORLANDO, Fla. — The first tropical wave of the year rolled off the coast of Africa on Monday.

Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said this is about the time of year these waves start moving off the continent into the Atlantic and serves as a sign that hurricane season is right around the corner.

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Shields said in a year, mainly throughout hurricane season, about 60 tropical waves come off the coast of Africa and march across the Atlantic.

Early in the season, which starts June 1, the waves won’t develop. But later in the summer as the conditions become more favorable, the waves can develop into long-track tropical storms and hurricanes.

Read: What is El Nino and why does it matter during hurricane season?

SEE: Storm names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season

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Hurricane season names These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)

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