According to the National Hurricane Center, in an area they call “Invest 96-L” in the Atlantic, signs pointing to the development of a tropical cyclone have been spotted. The center has given a 90% of it either turning into a tropical depression or a tropical storm in the next 48 hours.
The month of August is usually known for its stormy climate, but this year things have remained disturbingly quiet. Weather.com states that there is no reason to worry as the formation is moving rather slowly and will be kept under close surveillance. There is no comment as of yet about the potential gravity of a storm if one should form, but it is the first time in 18 years that August has seen no storm in its first half.
The explanation for this phenomenon by Weather.com is that a warming of the waters of the east Pacific – called “El Nino” – is happening this year as it did 18 years ago. “El Nino” causes heavy wind shear over the Atlantic Basin, making it increasingly difficult for tropical waves to cross the Atlantic from Africa. This causes an extreme decrease in storms.
The formation in Invest 96-L will be watched continuously throughout the next 48 hours and hopefully will dissipate just as quickly, in spite of the 90% chance the NHC is giving this event to take place.
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