It's not too early for the first tropical storm to form

With a tropical disturbance that may turn into Alex brewing more than 1,400 miles from the Windward Islands, it got us to wondering what's the earliest a storm or hurricane has formed in the Atlantic this decade.

The National Hurricane Center has the answers:

• 2009: Tropical Storm Ana, Aug. 11.
• 2008: Tropical Storm Arthur, May 31.
• 2007: Subtropical Storm Andrea, May 9.
• 2006: Tropical Storm Alberto, June 10.
• 2005: Tropical Storm Arlene, June 8.
• 2004: Hurricane Alex, July 11.
• 2003: Tropical Storm Ana, April 20.
• 2002: Tropical Storm Arthur, July 14.
• 2001: Tropical Storm Allison, June 5.
• 2000: Hurricane Alberto, Aug. 3