News
09/03/2024, 4:35 am EDT

An Update on North Atlantic Hurricane Forecast Factors

A review of the seasonal hurricane activity predictors is mixed with warm SSTA in the main development region (MDR) supportive of hurricane development while fast trade winds suppressing tropical development have been a significant inhibiting factor.
08/27/2024, 2:34 pm EDT

Indian Ocean Dipole Shifts Negative, Albeit Weak

Currently, the Indian Ocean dipole is in weak positive phase. The western basin is 0.32C warmer than the eastern basin identifying the +IOD regime. The IOD trend of recent weeks is to drift into the weak positive phase. The IOD forecast was a shift into the negative phase for the last third of 2024. Due to the recent rewarming of the western tropical North Atlantic, the -IOD forecast remains, but is generally weaker and not all models project -IOD.
08/24/2024, 11:46 am EDT

Explaining Lack of Tropical Cyclone Activity; Where SEP/OCT Locates

Cooling of the equatorial Atlantic has pushed the ITCZ farther north and into the faster than normal trade wind belt. Saharan Dust has shifted westward through the trade wind belt. These conditions are preventing tropical cyclone activity. Due to these conditions, the western North Atlantic basin becomes the most favored location for tropical cyclone development.
08/18/2024, 9:39 am EDT

Fast Trade Winds Preventing Very Active North Atlantic TC Regime

Faster than normal trade winds are normally associated with a temperature inversion usually around 850 MB (about 1,500 meters). The temperature inversion prevents vertical motion enabling convective cloud formation associated with developing tropical disturbances. Since July 1st, trade winds have been much faster than normal across the North Atlantic tropics.