00:00This is prime time for hurricanes in the Atlantic. In fact, two-thirds of all Atlantic tropical
00:04activity occurs in the 50-day window between August 20th and October 10th. So what is it
00:11about this period of time? Three big factors align, maximizing tropical storms and hurricanes
00:16as summer ends and fall begins. In the early to midsummer, the slow accumulation of summer
00:22heat in the ocean leads to a lag, with water still warming through July, long after the
00:27summer solstice. At the same time, dry air frequently carries dust from the Sahara Desert across
00:32the Atlantic in broad patches in June and July. This dry, dusty air inhibits development, but
00:37by mid-August, things are changing, with waters becoming warmest in late August and through
00:41September in the tropics. The high-octane fuel becomes a rich energy source for tropical storms
00:46and hurricanes as the seasons change. At the same time, that dry, dusty Saharan air is trimmed
00:52back, opening the door for moisture across the Atlantic. September is prime time when
00:56the jet stream is still far to the north, so there are large areas without a strong headwind,
01:01and storms can organize in broad areas of warmth, humidity, and otherwise light winds. By late
01:06October and November, though, those jet stream winds charge southward. Stronger winds aloft
01:11bring wind shear that disrupts storms from forming or keep them weaker and disheveled. Shorter
01:15days lead to cooler waters, and the curtain is drawn, ending hurricane season by the end of November.
01:20October.
01:20discussed
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