NU Online News Service, Aug. 10, 1:58 p.m. EDT
As we enter what is historically the most-active period for tropical storm and hurricane formations, one weather forecasting company says that the Atlantic could give birth to several systems over the next couple of weeks.
Accuweather.com says August is a time when the Cape Verde storms (tropical systems that originate from the Cape Verde Islands near Africa) begin to ramp up, while the risk of near-shore formation of storms continues.
A push of cooler air into the Northeast is sometimes a sign that the tropical Atlantic is about to roll into high gear, says Accuweather. That extra cool push in the north helps to generate some spin in the subtropics, farther south.
Traditionally, August through October has been the busiest months for the tropical storm formations, which begins on June 1 and runs through November.
According to Tropical Weather and Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski, there are three disturbances that could evolve into tropical storms.
The first is "a disturbance associated with a cluster of thunderstorms crossing the Southeast U.S.," he says. "This may work to give birth to a weak, short-lived tropical system off the Carolina coast late this week."
Accuweather.com said the other two disturbances could develop from tropical waves, or Cape Verde systems.
If the tropical storms do form, climatic factors could affect their intensity and direction, though.
"There are still disruptive areas of wind shear and pockets of dry air lurking about the Atlantic," says Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok.
However, Accuweather.com warns that while an "atmospheric roadblock will continue to protect the U.S. mainland coast for the next 10 to 14 days, there is some indication this protection will expire for the Southeast U.S. somewhere around Aug. 25."
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