Talking the Tropics With Garrett: Tropics turn quiet, tropical wave off the coast of Africa

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Central Atlantic... Tropical wave “96-L” will not develop as a cold front is absorbing it in the Central Atlantic.

Eastern Atlantic... It’s no surprise for this time of year, but a tropical wave has emerged off the West Coast of Africa. It looks pretty “decent” now. It should run into some drier air as it tries to lift north of the “intertropical convergent zone,” or ITCZ. However, that doesn’t mean this feature can’t develop as it gets farther west over the next 7-10 days. This is the time of year that we have to watch each wave as it moves across the Atlantic. Just because the conditions are not conducive for development where the tropical wave is now, doesn’t mean they won’t be conducive where it is heading. We’ll keep an eye on it, at the very least.

Water vapor loop (dark blue/yellow is dry mid & upper level air):

July tropical cyclone origins:

Averages below based on climatology for the Atlantic Basin for August:

Wind shear:

Saharan dust spreads west each year from Africa by the prevailing winds (from east to west over the Atlantic). Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink. Widespread dust is indicative of dry air that can impede the development of tropical cyclones. However, sometimes “wanna’ be” waves will just wait until they get to the other side of - or away from - the plume then try to develop if other conditions are favorable. In my personal opinion, way too much is made about the presence of Saharan dust & how it relates to tropical cyclones. In any case, the peak of Saharan dust typically is in June & July.

2023 names..... “Emily” is the next name on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years). Historic storms are retired [Florence & Michael in ’18... Dorian in ’19 & Laura, Eta & Iota in ‘20, Ida in ‘21 & Fiona & Ian in ‘22]). In fact, this year’s list of names is rather infamous with “Katrina”, “Rita” & “Wilma” retired from the ‘05 list & “Harvey”, “Irma”,“Maria” & “Nate” from the ‘17 list. The WMO decided - beginning in 2021 - that the Greek alphabet will be no longer used & instead there will be a supplemental list of names if the first list is exhausted (has only happened three times - 2005, 2020 & 2021). The naming of tropical cyclones began on a consistent basis in 1953. More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.