Tropical Storm Alex (2016)

'''I can't wait for the Atlantic to get back to being active again. It looks like we may not see another Atlantic cyclone until the spring or summer, so here is the first named storm of my 2016 Atlantic hurricane season! Enjoy!'''

Tropical Storm Alex was the first named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season. It was the first Atlantic tropical cyclone since Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015. Alex formed from an upper-level low off the coast of Georgia and later nearly became a hurricane as it brushed the east coast.

Meteorological History
On May 27, a large low pressure system formed over Georgia and produced large amounts of rain and thunderstorms, spreading up to the Atlanta and Sugarhill area. On May 28, the NHC began monitoring the upper-level low as it moved off the coast of Georgia. The low slowly moved northeastward before looping back around to Georgia. Due to unusually warm water temperatures and low wind shear, the system began to be monitored for possible tropical or subtropical development. The NHC designated the low "Invest 90L" on May 29. The system did not move much over the next two days as it slowly developed. On May 30, the system was given a 40% chance of development within the next 48 hours, and a 70% chance of development within the next 5 days. Due to the storm's possible tropical cyclogenesis, the NHC organized their first Hurricane Hunters mission of the year to go investigate the system on June 2. By June 1, the system was acquiring subtropical characteristics. The system was was officially classified as Subtropical Depression One on June 2 at 5:00 AM EDT when the Hurricane Hunters aircraft identified a closed circulation. At 11:00 PM EDT on June 3, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Alex as it became fully tropical. Alex later underwent a brief period of rapid intensification, and the NHC expected Alex to briefly become a Category 1 hurricane, which would have made it the earliest hurricane in several years. Alex's outer bands caused heavy rainfall throughout the east coast of the United States, causing some isolated flooding in the Carolinas and Virginia. However, Alex peaked with 70 mph winds on June 5 as it was off the coast of Virginia. Alex then slowly weakened over the next 2 days, and became extratropical on June 7 while it was still producing gale-force winds.

Impact
Impacts from the storm were minimal. The storm did cause $1 million of damage, as well as one indirect death in North Carolina. However, isolated flooding did occur in some areas, but no wide-spread flooding occurred. Since overall impacts were minimal, the name Alex was not retired and was re-used in 2020, when it would be retired.