Hurricane Season Amps Up, Summer Winds Down
By Quincy Vagell on August 18, 2012, 12:30pm
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Although summer is gradually winding down, the hurricane season is still almost a month away from its climatological peak.
Although average air temperatures are starting to fall, that doesn't mean that the tropics cool off. In fact, since water takes longer to warm up than land, there is actually a delay. With that said, the ocean temperatures are typically their warmest in August.
Well, if that is the case, how come the hurricane season peak is in September?
There are actually many causes for this. Although temperatures start to cool off pretty quickly at high latitudes, like Connecticut, the temperatures in the tropics stay rather warm. Combine this with a more active jet stream and more convection and tropical waves can be kicked off.
Most hurricane landfalls in New England have been in late August into September.
Tomorrow marks the 21st anniversary of Hurricane Bob and many of us remember when Tropical Storm Irene churned through the state in late August of last year.
Just as the hurricane season itself peaks in September, that same month has also proven to be one of the worst for hurricane landfalls in our area.
1938: The New England Hurricane hit the area on September 21st.
1954: Hurricane Edna reached New England on September 11th.
1960: Hurricane Donna impacted the region on September 12th.
1985: Hurricane Gloria ripped through the state on September 27th.
Hurricane Bob may have been one of the earliest (in the season) tropical systems to cause major problems in New England, but even that was on August 19th.
Hurricane Carol hit Connecticut towards the end of August, on August 30th.
What does the reason of the season have in store?
Well, it's anybody's guess if any storms will threaten the East Coast, but some ingredients are there to help support the potential.
Since ocean temperatures are so unusually warm, the fuel for Tropical Storms and Hurricanes is certainly there. Also, should a storm develop in late September or even October, relatively warm water temperatures would help a storm sustain its strength, should one move up the East Coast.
Stay tuned to WXedge.com for updates as the Hurricane Season continues.
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