#Tropical Storm Josephine marks earliest ‘J’ storm in history

Tropical Storm Josephine has just become the earliest “J” storm on record to form in the Atlantic Ocean — signaling that we could be in for a busy hurricane season.

The storm, which formed Thursday about 1,000 miles east of the Leeward Island, beat out Tropical Storm Jose, which swelled up in the Atlantic Basin on Aug. 22 in 2005, the Weather Channel reported.

But don’t worry — Josephine is expected to be short-lived and unlikely to come anywhere near the East Coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected to strengthen as it passes near the Leeward Islands over the weekend, with winds that could hit 80 mph before it fizzles out.

No coastal warnings have been announced.

However, forecasters said the early arrival of the season’s 10th Atlantic storm suggests this year’s hurricane season could be particularly busy.

“Most groups are calling for a very active season,” Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach said on Twitter.

“Average July-August forecasts call for 9 hurricanes.”