The story

Today's not only the first of the month or the start of the summer season meteorologically: It's the first day of hurricane season 2009.

On this day, forecasters often begin speculating about when the season's first storm will form in the Atlantic. There's no need to wonder about that this year, because there's already been a tropical depression -- before the official season even began.

On Thursday, Tropical Depression One formed in the Atlantic about 310 miles south of Providence, Rhode Island, with maximum winds of 35 mph. The depression sustained its intensity Thursday as it sat over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and faced relatively low wind shear. Read full article »

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