This Atlantic hurricane season is about to do something that hasn't happened in 175 years
But there may be a price to pay for a quiet Atlantic hurricane season.
But there may be a price to pay for a quiet Atlantic hurricane season.
The short version
- Last week, the Atlantic hurricane season blew through its traditional peak—which comes around September 10—with nary a tropical wave in sight, let alone a storm or hurricane.
- Usually this is the time of year when sea surface temperatures reach their warmest in the tropics, and with a favorable atmosphere it should be smooth skating for tropical systems.
- But this year, the main region where most tropical systems develop is choked with Saharan dust and wind shear.
What happened
Landfalling hurricanes are incredibly destructive for coastal areas and have the potential for considerable inland rainfall. Even storms at sea, in the Gulf of Mexico, can send energy prices skyrocketing—the last thing needed this year.
Why it matters
Beginning in 1944, the United States began monitoring the Atlantic basin, which includes the Gulf, Caribbean Sea, and northern Atlantic Ocean, with aircraft to detect hurricanes.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.