Tropical Storm Josephine, when it forms, will set a new record for the earliest J-named storm in the Atlantic basin. If it seems like there have been more tropical storms this season you are correct. Many storms have set early-season records this year including Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna and Isaias. Now, Josephine could become a tropical storm by Thursday, much earlier than the current record set by Jose on Aug. 22 during the infamous 2005 hurricane season. The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season had an ACE of about 130 which is greater than the 1981-2010 average value of 104.

JACKOSNVILLE, Fla – Hanna and Gonzalo are in the Gulf and the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, respectively. Yep, the earliest seventh and earliest eighth named tropical storms (no hurricanes, yet). Now, for Jacksonville, we will continue our pattern of coastal morning showers, that move to I-95 by the lunch hour and then blow-up west of town after 2pm. Saturday will be much like today, which will make it a decent day to get yard work done, but after that? Bigger afternoon storms and showers return to everyone starting Sunday through next Thursday, Many locations will receive 2-3 inches of rain (if not more).

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The states Emergency Operations Center is back open after being forced to close for several days for cleaning after at least a dozen people tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Now the center is also monitoring newly formed Gonzalo, which is expected to become a hurricane on Thursday. No one gets into the state emergency center without a temperature check and answering a thorough list of questions. Under the plan, one group will continue working on nothing but COVID, and a second on just hurricane planning and recovery. It has been planning how to deal with a hurricane and COVID at the same time since March.