2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Heating Up

Indications are that the next few weeks there will be an increase in tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin. The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has become quite active with wave after wave coming off the coast of Africa. This time of year also marks when systems, disturbances, or tropical waves (whatever you might want to call them) come off of Africa can make a full track across the Atlantic ocean and affect the Caribbean Islands, the Gulf of Mexico or even the U.S. mainland. The weather pattern is being predicted by several global computer models to begin shifting this week to a more favorable pattern for Atlantic tropical cyclones to develop and make this track across the Atlantic. It is impossible for computer models to predict exact tracks of these storms this far out in advance, but when 3 different computer models (American, European, UK) all hint at several waves becoming tropical cyclones its time to start paying attention. Computer models generally do a good job at sensing larger scale patterns and pattern shifts and the one being predicted is definitely one that supports hurricane development.

The National Hurricane Center already is keeping an eye of 2 of these waves over open waters of the Atlantic.