2017 Garfield Islands Hurricane Season

The 2017 Garfield Islands Hurricane Season started on May 1, 2017 and will end on November 25, 2017. These are the dates that delimit tropical cyclone formation in the Garfield Islands basin in 2017. However, storms that form outside of the bounds of the official season will still count toward the season. This season started on May 2, with the formation of Tropical Storm Ava. This season is forecast to be slightly above average, due to a possible weak el nino.

Tropical Weather Outlook
Tropical update as of July 23, 2017:

A tropical wave is forecast to move into the Garfield basin by the middle of this week. Conditions are forecast to be favorable for some development before reaching an area of increasing wind shear.

Development in 48 hours - 0%

Development in 1 week - 20%

Tropical Storm Ava
Tropical Storm Ava formed on May 2, the second day of the official season. Despite having a disorganized appearance initially, it was forecast to peak as a strong tropical storm. Ava slowly moved northward, and reached peak winds of 45 mph on May 3. Shortly after peak, Ava entered an area of increasing wind shear, and weakened further as the convection began to be sheared further from the center. Ava struck the region of Odus on May 4, as a tropical depression. However, as the convection was displaced far to the south, minimal impacts were felt in Odus. Ava dissipated inland on May 4.

Hurricane Benvolio
A large, well-defined low pressure area entered the Garfield Islands basin on May 15. The GIHC, noting favorable conditions, monitored it for development. It consolidated into Tropical Depression 02G on May 18, and intensified into Tropical Storm Benvolio 6 hours later. Benvolio intensified in a region of favorable conditions, and became a hurricane around noon the next day, with an eye becoming visible. Benvolio began an abrupt phase of rapid intensification, reaching peak on May 21, as a solid Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds, before less favorable conditions resulted in weakening. Benvolio rapidly accelerated to the northeast, and became extratropical on May 23. Benvolio had no land impact, but it did cause 1 indirect death when a surfer got dragged out to sea.

Storm Names
This name list was used to name storms in the Garfield Islands in 2017. This list was last used during the 2013 season, and will return in the 2021 season. This is the same list used in 2013 except for Forrest, which replaced Fabian.