2018 Atlantic usercane season

If you're new to the usercane concept, check this blog if you want to see how usercanes work: How Usercanes Actually Work.

The 2018 Atlantic usercane season is an ongoing event in usercane formation. It is the ninth season of usercane formation, and the third season of operational usercane tracking. Storms forming between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018, will be a part of this season. The 2018 season featured the highest number of userpressions developing in the month of January. The season's first userpression, which later became Tropical Userstorm Avdis, developed on January 3, and became the earliest tropical userpression ever to develop in the Atlantic basin, beating the previous record set by Tropical Depression Four (HurricaneHistory) in the 2016 season.

The season's strongest storm is Tropical Userstorm Frosty, a rapidly forming tropical cyclone that strengthened to reach winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) in less than a day after formation. The 2018 season has thus far been a very weak season, with no storms strengthening to severe tropical userstorms or usercanes. For the first time since 2015, two tropical userstorms formed in the month of March (Harris and Cyclophoon).

Seasonal forecasts
Before and during the season, several agencies release forecasts regarding usercane activity.

Pre-season outlooks
On December 3, the Cooper Meteorological Center released their forecast for the 2018 season, calling for an above average season in terms of named storms, but a below average season in terms of usercanes and major usercanes. The same day, the FMC released their 2018 forecast, predicting 26-32 named storms, 3-9 usercanes, and 1-6 major usercanes. On December 4, 2017, the BNWC released their 2018 forecast on December 4, predicting 30-40 named storms, 3-7 usercanes, and 1-4 major usercanes, The same day, the GIHC released their 2018 forecast, predicting 35 named storms, 6 usercanes, and 2 major usercanes. Two days later, the HMA released their first forecast for the season, predicting 33-45 named storms, 4 usercanes, and 1 major usercanes. They also said that the number of userstorms was to explode sometime after late August.

On December 7, the Nova International Meteorological Center released their forecast for the 2018 season, predicting 27-40 named storms, 2-3 usercanes, and 2 major usercanes.On December 24, the JCSC predicted a below average season, with 20-25 named storms, 3-5 usercanes, and 2-3 major usercanes, but also added that there was a 30% chance of a hyperactive season similar to 2017. On December 24, the CMC revised their predictions for the season, increasing the number of usercanes and major usercanes, but retaining the same number of storms. On the same day, the Prism Weather Center released their first forecast for the season, predicting 23-36 named storms, 4-11 usercanes and 1-7 major usercanes. On December 31, one hour before the season starts, the CSHC released their prediction for the season, predicting 28 named storms, 4 usercanes, and 2 major usercanes.

Mid-season outlooks
On January 1st, the BNMA released their prediction, predicting a similar season to 2017, with 27-30 named storms, 4-7 usercanes and 1-3 major usercanes. the HMA released their revised prediction on January 1, 2018, predicting 36 named storms, 7 usercanes and 4 major usercanes. After a very active January, the JCSC released their revised prediction, predicting a season more like 2017, with 30-40 named storms, 3-5 usercanes, and 2 major usercanes. On January 26, BMA released their first forecast for the season, predicting 30-40 named storms, 6 usercanes and 3 major usercanes, predicting it will be a season somewhat alike to 2017. On February 12, the CMC revised their predictions on the number of named userstorms developing after a record-breaking January, with no change in the number of usercanes and major usercanes. The CMC then lowered the number of usercanes and major usercanes in their forecast to 3 and 1, respectively, after the Atlantic Ocean thermohaline circulation continued to weaken. They also set a more concrete range on the number of named userstorms in their updated prediction. On the same day, the BMA issued their new forecasts for the season, predicting 35-47 named storms. The BMA also lowered the number of usercanes from 6 to 4, and revising the number of major usercanes from 3 to just 1.

Tropical Userstorm Avdis
On January 3, a tropical userwave emerged off the coast of Africa. The wave quickly organized, strengthening into a tropical userpression on the same day, the first one of the season. Forming on January 3, it became the earliest first depression of any usercane season on record, breaking the previous record set by Tropical Depression Four in 2016. The userpression reached tropical userstorm status the next day, becoming the earliest named system to reach tropical userstorm status on record, breaking the previous record set by Tropical Userstorm Destiny of 2016. Shortly after reaching peak intensity, Avdis began to slowly weaken, and on January 27 the storm degenerated to a tropical userwave. On February 1, the remnants of Avdis began to show signs of regeneration, and the next day the remnants briefly regenerated into a tropical userpression. The regenerated system finally dissipated days later.

Tropical Userpression Two (HurricaneRafael)
On December 11, 2017, a weak tropical userwave exited the coast of Africa. This wave lingered just off the coast of Africa for several days until it began a slow northwestward track. The wave remained weak and disorganized until January 8, when it was designated as Tropical Userpression Two. The nascent userpression struggled with a Saharan air mass and failed to strengthen significantly. On January 24, the depression was completely devoid of convection, and the NUC discontinued advisories as the system opened up into a tropical userwave.

Tropical Userstorm Blue (Bluecaner)
Another tropical userwave left the coast of Africa on December 18, 2017. The wave tracked swiftly westward across the tropical Atlantic and showed no signs of development until January 11, when the wave developed into a tropical userpression while located 300 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands. The system continued to steadily intensify, and on January 18 was designated as Tropical Userstorm Blue.

Current storm information
As of 16:00 UTC February 25, Tropical Userstorm Blue is located 390 miles northwest of the Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph (65 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 1001 hectopascals, and the system is moving northwest at 3 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Morgan (TheRealHurricaneTrackerSps123)
On June 17, 2017, the NUC began monitoring an area of low pressure that was expected to detach from a stalled cold front. However, the low pressure area stalled over the Central Atlantic. Unusually, the low failed to strengthen and instead weakened rapidly. On January 16, another area of low pressure was identified over the Central Atlantic, and later assessed to have formed from the remnants of the June low, which was cycled through steering currents across the Atlantic. On January 16, the low was classified as Tropical Userpression Four. Four days later, it strengthened into Tropical Userstorm Morgan and reached its peak intensity. Shortly thereafter, Morgan began to weaken as it accelerated northeast, and on February 3 the storm was absorbed by a cold front south of the Azores.

Tropical Userstorm Brickkks
On January 20, the NUC began monitoring an area of low pressure that developed near roughly 100 miles off the coast of North Carolina. The low quickly attained tropical characteristics, and on the same day it was classified as Tropical Userpression Five. The userpression remained steady in intensity for a few days until January 26, when it strengthened into Tropical Userstorm Brickks.

Current storm information
As of 03:00 UTC February 22, Tropical Userstorm Brickkks is located 120 miles east of the coast of Virginia. Maximum sustained winds are at 45 mph (75 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 999 hectopascals, and the system is moving north at 3 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Mobile (No.1 Mobile)
On January 20, the NUC began monitoring an area of low pressure that developed 160 miles north-northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula. The low quickly developed into Tropical Userpression Six. The userpression was quick to intensify, and on January 22 the National Usercane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Userstorm Mobile.

Current storm information
As of 16:00 UTC February 25, Tropical Userstorm Mobile is located 219 miles north-northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula. Maximum sustained winds are at 50 mph (85 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 999 hectopascals, and the system is moving northwest at 2 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Cube (FM Cube)
On January 14, a trough of low pressure formed over the Central Atlantic Ocean. The trough stalled as it drew moisture from a tropical low to the south of the trough. By January 22, the trough began to show signs of significant organization, and on January 24 it was classified as a tropical userpression. On January 27, the userpression strengthened a great degree, and it was upgraded to Tropical Userstorm Cube.

Current storm information
As of 12:00 UTC March 20, Tropical Userstorm Cube is located in the Central Atlantic. Maximum sustained winds are at 50 mph (85 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 995 hectopascals, and the system is moving north at 1 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Pstar (Pstar77)
A large tropical userwave exited the coast of Africa on January 23. The wave then split, with the northern portion developing into a tropical userpression early on January 25. The nascent userpression struggled to intensify due to strengthening wind shear, and on February 3, the userpression degenerated to a remnant low as it succumbed to the effects of shear. The remnants drifted northwestward and began to reorganize under favorable conditions. On February 7, the userpression regenerated, and later the same day strengthened into a tropical userstorm.

Current storm information
As of 21:00 UTC March 11, Tropical Userstorm Pstar is located 300 miles west of Cape Verde. Maximum sustained winds are at 50 mph (85 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 996 hectopascals, and the system is moving west-northwest at 1 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Frosty (Frosty2000)
A tropical userpression formed from a tropical userwave northwest of Cape Verde on February 9. Despite uncertainty in the forecasting of the userpression, with some models expecting it to dissipate quickly, it instead quickly intensified into Tropical Userstorm Frosty. Throughout the following day, Frosty continued to quickly intensify, reaching winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) in less than a day after formation. Afterward, the storm continued to intensify at a fast rate throughout the following week.

Current storm information
As of 21:00 UTC March 11, Tropical Userstorm Frosty is located 108 miles northwest of Cape Verde. Maximum sustained winds are at 50 mph (85 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 994 hectopascals, and the system is moving west-northwest at 2 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Irma (Ef5tornadofan77)
A shortwave trough formed over the central Atlantic on January 30. On February 8, the low detached from the front and subsequently began to acquire tropical characteristics. On February 10, the NUC classified the low as Tropical Userpression Ten. On February 14, due to low wind shear and abnormally high sea surface temperatures, the userpression strengthened into a tropical userstorm. Strong wind shear prevented further development, and Irma weakened to a tropical userpression on February 23. On March 3, the weakening userpression degenerated to a non-tropical remnant low.

Tropical Userpression Eleven (Jwbaker15)
A weak tropical userwave exited the west coast of Africa on December 11, 2017. The wave lingered just off the coast for several weeks until it began a slow northwestward track. On February 18, the userwave finally intensified into a tropical userpression. The userpression almost immediatley began weakening, and by March 3 it had degenerated to an open wave.

Tropical Userstorm Aidan (Aidan1493)
On February 16, a tropical userwave emerged off the coast of Africa. Tracking westward, the wave began to organize under a favorable environment. On February 20, the NUC designated the system as Tropical Userpression Twelve. The following day, the userpression rapidly strengthened into a tropical userstorm, receiving the name Aidan.

Current storm information
As of 16:00 UTC February 25, Tropical Userstorm Aidan is located 128 miles west of Cape Verde. Maximum sustained winds are at 45 mph (75 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 1,007 hectopascals, and the system is moving west at 2 mpd.

Tropical Userpression Thirteen (ArrDFe25)
The interaction between a tropical userwave and an upper-level low spawned a tropical userpression on 03:00 UTC on February 25.

Current storm information
As of 02:00 UTC March 13, Tropical Userpression Thirteen is located 610 miles northwest of Cape Verde. Maximum sustained winds are at 35 mph (55 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 1,009 hectopascals, and the system is moving northwest at 3 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Harris (Harris720)
Early on March 10, the NUC began monitoring a non-tropical area of low pressure that developed over the central Atlantic. The area split into two Located over favorable conditions, the low pressure area rapidly organized. On the same day, the NUC upgraded the low-pressure area to a tropical userstorm, due to continuously improving satellite appearance and the formation of a closed circulation.

Current storm information
As of 12:00 UTC March 20, Tropical Userstorm Harris is located in the open central Atlantic. Maximum sustained winds are at 45 mph (75 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 997 hectopascals, and the system is moving northwest at 2 mpd.

Tropical Userstorm Cyclophoon
Mid-day on March 11, the NUC began monitoring a tropical userwave that emerged off the coast of Africa. Located over favorable conditions for strengthening, the wave organized at a rapid pace, being upgraded to a tropical storm on the same day.

Current storm information
As of 15:00 UTC March 12, Tropical Userstorm Cyclophoon is located 68 miles west of Cape Verde. Maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph (85 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 1001 hectopascals, and the system is moving west at 4 mpd.

Tropical Userpression Sixteen (Rogerzwang)
A disorganized tropical userwave left the coast of Africa on February 19. It remained disorganized as it tracked west-northwestward until March 10, when it rapidly organized and became a tropical userpression.

Tropical Userpression Seventeen (AmazinglyOP)
A trough of low pressure formed over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean on February 11. Due to strong wind shear, the trough remained weak. On March 5, the trough began to acquire tropical characteristics, and it strengthened into a tropical depression 12 days later.

Other systems
A tropical userpression formed from a trough of low pressure west of Cape Verde on January 25. Operationally, the userpression was classified as Tropical Userpression Nine, and then Tropical Userstorm Moonlight. However, the storm was later found to have been a regeneration of Tropical Userstorm Fester.

Season effects
This is a table of all the storms that have formed in the 2018 Atlantic usercane season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s), denoted in parentheses, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in 2018 USD.