Why is this storm named Tropical Depression 2 and not Tropical Depression 1?

Forecast: Tracking Tropical Depression 2

Tropical Depression 2 continues to move slowly southward with little change in strength, according to the National Hurricane Center. We explain its potential impacts to Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Tropical Depression 2 formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, June 1, the official start of the hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Though the season just started, the NHC says the first storm of the 2023 hurricane season formed earlier this year.

In January, the NHC said they were tracking a rare wintertime disturbance brewing in the North Atlantic Ocean.

After a reassessment months after, NHC forecasters found that the subtropical storm was located about 300 miles north of Bermuda on Jan. 16 and determined it should be designated a subtropical storm.

The January storm has since been cataloged as the first tropical event of the season, giving the current storm in the Gulf the name of the second.

As of Friday morning, the latest forecast track now shows Tropical Depression 2 will not strengthen into a tropical storm as it moves south over the next day or so. The heavy rain threat, however, will continue from a distance mainly in south Florida.