The Ocean Is Ready for Hurricanes...Are You?

While hurricane season officially began on June 1st, the prime time for hurricanes starts in early August. The formation of hurricane Bertha made headlines everywhere partly because the hurricane formed somewhat early. Typically, the month of September can be particularly vicious (Examples include hurricane Katrina and hurricane Ivan.)

Over the spring season, the waters in the Atlantic are still cooler from the previous winter. Since water has a high heat capacity, the ocean water takes a while to heat up. Think of sea water like a swimming pool. While Memorial day picnics are often a traditional day to open the pool, there are often not many volunteers to jump into the still-cold waters. Look at the June 2008 sea surface temperature map to the right (click on the image for a larger version.) The warmer the water, the redder the color on these maps. The blue colors indicate areas where the water is too cool to fuel a hurricane. (You can always get the latest sea surface temperature maps here. There is also an archive going back to 1979 here.)

In addition to warm ocean waters and low wind shear, hurricanes need to start as a storm. Often, dust storms in the Sahara desert will create the conditions necessary for a hurricane to form. When ocean water reaches a temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), the ocean will warm the layer of air above the water. But having warm waters is not enough. Wind speeds in the summer are relatively calm along the equatorial regions where hurricanes form. If wind speeds or wind shear are too high, the storm could be torn apart. While the ocean gets ready for the formation of more hurricanes, you should also be prepared by checking out the 9 steps to hurricane safety and preparedness. You may also want to check out the upcoming names for tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic.