Three named storms down, and the first month of the Atlantic Hurricane season isn't even over yet. That alone is a bit unusual. The third named storm doesn't typically form (on average) until early August. It's even more unusual to be looking at possible development this early in the season near the west coast of Africa.
Three named storms this early may be unusual, but it's not unprecedented. In fact, the "C" storm last year, Colin, swept across Florida even earlier than Cindy formed this season. What is extremely rare, however, is how active the central Atlantic has been, where tropical storm Brett was born a couple weeks ago. Dr. Phil Klotzbach, renowned hurricane forecaster from Colorado State, says this has only happened two other times during the month of June, so it's difficult to say whether it's a sign.
"1933 and 1979 were the other two. While 1933 was a very active season, '79 had near normal activity."
Phil did say that warmer waters in the Atlantic, and now the unlikely scenario that an El Nino develops this fall, could lead to a more active season overall.