Below are graphics all relating to the tropics and hurricane season. Graphics are updated automatically through the day.

HURRICANE SEASON

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Peak hurricane season is when ocean waters are at their warmest. On land, temperatures fluctuate daily, we warm up during the day in the summer and cool down at night. Water retains heat differently. Water will continue to warm over time, and stores heat longer.

This is why when you go to the Atlantic ocean in May as land temperatures heat up, the ocean is still cold. But when you go in early October the ocean is still very warm. That’s because it’s been retaining the summer heat.

CURRENT TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES

National Hurricane Center

POTENTIAL TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT

Any outlined areas marked with an ‘X’ is an area of interest the National Hurricane Center is watching for potential development. Development does not mean landfall. This is updated four times a day, every 6 hours by the National Hurricane Center. Those times are 5 a.m./p.m. and 11 a.m./p.m.

SEA SURFACE TEMPERAURES

Ocean water temperatures or sea surface temperatures are imperative for the formation of tropical cyclones (tropical storms or hurricanes). Ocean water temperatures must be above 82°F for a tropical system to form.

SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES COMPARED TO AVERAGE

This is a look at how the current ocean water temperature is compared to average. The more blue, the more cooler than average. The more orange and red, that means warmer than average.

SAHARAN DUST

This is the Saharan dust forecast, dust coming off the west coast of Africa. The yellow is the dust and the more orange and red the thicker the dust plume. More dust into the tropical Atlantic can suppress tropical storms and hurricanes from forming. Sometimes this dust can even move into the south east of the U.S. At times this can lead to brighter colors or more vivid colors for sunrises and sunsets.

HURRICANE NAMES

There are 21 hurricane names per season which are made in advance by the World Meteorological Organization. A little history on the naming of hurricanes. This practice started in the early 1950s. It quickly went from a phonetic naming system to only using female names in 1953.

By 1979, make names were added to the list. There is a list of names for 6 years. If a storm is so destructive, (like Camille or Michael) that name will be retired and a new name will be added to the list. So names of storms will repeat themselves every 6 years unless retired.

What if we run out of names? If a season has so many named storms, then the greek alphabet was used for additional storms in one season. However that practice ended after the 2021 active season. So now, if all 21 names are used in a season, there’s a backup list that will be used starting with A.