Major Hurricane Laura was the thirteenth tropical system and twelfth named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Laura was the earliest forming twelfth storm in recorded history. When the storm became a tropical depression, it did so around the same time as another tropical depression formed (later Hurricane Marco). At one point, both storms were predicted to make simultaneous landfalls on the US Gulf states as category 1 hurricanes. Laura remained under hurricane strength until reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Upon entering those water, rapid intensification quickly created a category 4 monster of a storm. Laura made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, just 1 mbar / hPa above its peak lowest pressure and tied the 1856 Last Island Hurricane as the strongest (deepest low pressure) to hit the US state of Louisiana. As of August 31st, Major Hurricane Laura is estimated to have caused US$8 billion in damages. Peak: 150 MPH, 937 mbar / hPa.

A short-lived tropical depression just off the coast of Africa. Peak: 35 MPH, 1008 mbar / mPa.

Tropical Storm Theta was the thirtieth tropical system and the twenty-ninth named storm of the hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. At 29 storms, this now bests the 2005 hurricane season as the most active. 2005 reached its last storm on December 30th. Theta began as a area of low pressure that had detached from a front that had began dying out over the central Atlantic. Once the circulation had completely closed off, Subtropical Storm Theta was born. Never a threat to land and with very little chance of strengthening, Theta moved eastward over the Atlantic without much fanfare other than eventually transitioning to a fully tropical system. Peak: 70 MPH, 989 mbar / hPa.

Subtropical Storm Alpha was the twenty-fourth tropical system and twenty-second named storm of the hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Alpha is the earliest forming twenty-second storm in recorded history, beating out 2005's Hurricane Wilma by 29 days. Alpha is also the eastern most developing tropical or subtropical storm in the Atlantic basin, beating out 1973's Tropical Storm Christine. Alpha was also the third confirmed tropical or subtropical system to make landfall on mainland Europe, following an unnamed 1842 hurricane in Spain and 2005's Hurricane Vince. It was the first landfalling tropical or subtropical system in Portugal. Subtropical Storm Alpha is also notable for heralding in the second time the Atlantic basin ran out of pre-defined names. Per the guidelines of the World Meteorological Organization, the Greek alphabet is used for names going forward. Subtropical Storm Alpha formed at around 10ºW, an extreme and - as mentioned above - record breaking longitude. The storm gained organization just a short time before making landfall and so officially lasted for three NHC updates (18 hours). Alpha spawned at least two tornadoes and caused extensive flooding.