Tropical Storm Nate sprang to life in the western Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, Tropical Storm Maria formed in the Atlantic and Hurricane Katia churned up surf along Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast, forecasters said.
The trio of tropical cyclones came during what is traditionally the busiest part of the June-through-November hurricane season in the Atlantic basin.
"At this time of year we are essentially at the peak of the hurricane season," said John Cangialosi, a hurricane specialist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.