Atlantic Hurricane Season
What affects hurricanes in the Atlantic?
Water Temperature
So, how do hurricanes form? Tropical depressions, which are low pressure systems, come off of Africa's coast, sending waem waters towards the U.S. and Mexico. The wam ocean water (80 degrees fahrenheit and up) provides the energy a hurricane needs and more evaporationfor humid air. The humid air from the ocean creates clouds that make a storm. Winds come togethere undeer the clouds, rise up through them while cooling off rapidly, and disperse above them, forming the hurricane. Light winds on the perimeter of the hurricane steer its path and allow it to grow.
The water temperature of the water is extremely important in hurricane formation and vital to making an effective, strong hurricane.
Bermuda High
The Bermuda High is an area of high pressure located over the Bermuda that steers storms west across the Atlantic over summer and fall.
The Bermuda High forms over the Atlantic ocean in late spring and early fall. It forms like every other high pressure system: air converges above the atmosphere and sinks in spiral because of its weight.
So, how exactly does the Bermuda High affect Atlantic hurricanes? It manipulates Atlantic hurricane pathways with its warm, dry winds and has a large impact on the temperature of the water since it is a high pressure system, which warms the water. With waters at high temperature, hurricanes have a higher intensity.
Bermuda High: The Navigator of Hurricanes
Bermuda High Heat
Bermuda High Causing Movement
El Nino
What exactly is El Nino's relevance to Atlantic hurricanes if it forms in the Pacific? El Nino increases the number of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Pacific and causes a decrease in high-velocity storms in the Atlantic. The wind patterns are aligned in such a way that it increases the vertical wind shear over the Atlantic. The increased wind shear helps prevent tropical disturbances from developing hurricanes. El Nino plays a key role in preventing hurricanes in the Atlantic.