The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season has had the quietest start to the season in 30 years, but is still expected to pick up in the coming weeks.

So far this year, only three named storms have been reported – Alex, Bonnie and Colin – but all three were weak and short lived, with only one passing near the island.

According to The Weather Channel, this season has also marked the first time in 40 years that no named storms formed between July 3 and August 22.

However 90 per cent of major Atlantic hurricanes – those that reach or exceed Category 3 strength – formed after August 20 and the US-based National Hurricane Centre said the season is still expected to be busier than average with between 14 and 20 named storms.

Michelle Pitcher, the acting director of the Bermuda Weather Service, said residents should not allow the slow start of the season to make them complacent.

She said: “Many serious impacts have occurred in seasons that start late.

“One only needs to look at the first storm of 1992 – Hurricane Andrew, which formed in late August of that year – to note that late starts can yield major storms.

“Indications from all of the agencies that make seasonal predictions show background conditions that are conducive to a busy second half of the hurricane season.”

Hurricane Andrew hammered the Bahamas, Florida and Louisiana after it made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane.

The storm destroyed 63,500 houses, damaged more than 124,000 others and was responsible for 65 deaths.

Ms Pitcher said sea surface temperatures have been “quite variable” in June and July, but temperatures are expected to rise above normal levels.

She added that La Nina conditions are in effect, which causes weaker wind shear in the Atlantic – making the environment more suitable for hurricane development.

“We are entering the height of the tropical season so we must remain vigilant,” Ms Pitcher said.

“Remember, it only takes one to make it a busy season for Bermuda and we already had Tropical Storm Alex which passed just about 100 nautical miles to the north-northwest on June 6.”