ATLANTIC OCEAN — The National Hurricane Center stated that there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. The agency forecast that Tropical Storm Cristobal would dissipate on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

Why It Matters

The formation of Tropical Storm Cristobal shows the continued below-normal activity characterizing the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. With an ACE index 79% below the long-term average, the season reflects the influence of El Niño conditions that suppress tropical cyclone development through increased wind shear. This pattern contrasts with the 2025 season, which produced 13 named storms, including five hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

Cristobal's development outside the Gulf of Mexico marks a shift in genesis location compared to the season's first two named storms. The National Hurricane Center's tracking data shows Arthur and Bertha both formed in the Gulf, while Cristobal emerged in the central subtropical Atlantic. The storm's expected rapid dissipation reflects the hostile environmental conditions prevailing across much of the basin, consistent with NOAA's forecast for a quiet season.

Timeline

Tropical Storm Cristobal is the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect. The National Hurricane Center is responsible for investigating Tropical Storm Cristobal, with the first advisory issued at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and the next complete advisory scheduled for 900 PM GMT.

At 3:00 PM GMT on August 12, 2026, the center of Tropical Storm Cristobal was located near latitude 36.7 North and longitude 43.0 West. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed over the central subtropical Atlantic on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with its location reported as 36.7°N 43.0°W, moving east at 25 mph (41 km/h). Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Tropical Storm Cristobal was located approximately 880 miles (1,416 kilometers) west of the Azores. Cristobal's short lifespan (12 August 2026) and rapid dissipation were forecast due to unfavorable conditions, including cooler waters and wind shear, as outlined in the National Hurricane Center's forecast discussion.

What's New

Tropical Storm Cristobal is the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect. The National Hurricane Center is responsible for investigating Tropical Storm Cristobal, with the first advisory issued at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and the next complete advisory scheduled for 900 PM GMT.

At 3:00 PM GMT on August 12, 2026, the center of Tropical Storm Cristobal was located near latitude 36.7 North and longitude 43.0 West. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed over the central subtropical Atlantic on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with its location reported as 36.7°N 43.0°W, moving east at 25 mph (41 km/h). Tropical Storm Cristobal's maximum sustained winds were recorded at 40 knots (46 mph) in the NOAA HURDAT2 database, slightly lower than the 45 mph reported in initial advisories. Cristobal was the first 2026 Atlantic storm to form outside the Gulf of Mexico, following Tropical Storms Arthur (Gulf) and Bertha (Gulf), as noted in the National Hurricane Center's storm tracking data. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season had an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of 2.8 x10^4 kt², 79% below the 1991-2020 average, according to the National Hurricane Center.

How Sources Differ

Regarding tropical storm cristobal location and movement, desk_web stated that The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, while nhc.noaa.gov reported that Tropical Storm Cristobal formed over the central subtropical Atlantic on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with its location reported as 36.7°N 43.0°W, moving east at 25 mph (41 km/h).

On tropical storm cristobal maximum sustained winds, desk_web indicated that The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, whereas 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season noted that Tropical Storm Cristobal's maximum sustained winds were recorded at 40 knots (46 mph) in the NOAA HURDAT2 database, slightly lower than the 45 mph reported in initial advisories.

Concerning tropical storm cristobal status and advisory, + identified Tropical Storm Cristobal as the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, while desk_web focused on The National Hurricane Center issuing Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

For tropical storm cristobal formation context, + described Tropical Storm Cristobal as the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, while nhc.noaa.gov detailed that Tropical Storm Cristobal formed over the central subtropical Atlantic on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with its location reported as 36.7°N 43.0°W, moving east at 25 mph (41 km/h).

On named atlantic hurricane season outlook, + Tropical Storm Cristobal is the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, while newsdata (Newsweek/Yahoo) reported that NOAA forecasts the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season will have seven to 13 named storms, with a 75 percent chance of below-normal activity.

Regarding center tropical storm cristobal coordinates, desk_web stated that The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, while National Hurricane Center Advisory Number 1 AL032026 specified that At 3:00 PM GMT on August 12, 2026, the center of Tropical Storm Cristobal was located near latitude 36.7 North and longitude 43.0 West.

On national hurricane center storm tracking, desk_web reported that The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, while 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season noted that Cristobal was the first 2026 Atlantic storm to form outside the Gulf of Mexico, following Tropical Storms Arthur (Gulf) and Bertha (Gulf), as noted in the National Hurricane Center's storm tracking data.

Concerning national hurricane center forecast discussion, desk_web stated that The National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #1 at 300 PM GMT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, stating that Tropical Storm Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, while nhc.noaa.gov outlined that Cristobal's short lifespan (12 August 2026) and rapid dissipation were forecast due to unfavorable conditions, including cooler waters and wind shear, as outlined in the National Hurricane Center's forecast discussion.