Texas Researcher Says Dry Air Helping Fuel Slow Hurricane Season

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A Texas A&M storm expert says dry air is helping fuel a ho-um hurricane season, at least so far.

Robert Korty, an associate professor in Atmospheric Sciences, said in a statement Friday there have been 11 named storms this year, which is about average.

NASA's TRMM satellite showed a large area of heavy rain (red) south of Humberto's center of circulation on Sept. 9 at 9:47 p.m. EDT. Image Credit: SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce — NASA’s TRMM satellite showed a large area of heavy rain (red) south of Humberto’s center of circulation on Sept. 9 at 9:47 p.m. EDT.
Image Credit:
SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce

Normally, though, three would be Category 3 or higher hurricanes. This season’s two previous named storms making landfall, Humberto and Ingrid, were relatively low intensity.

Korty said usually active August and September were slow and blamed dry air coming across the Atlantic from Africa, preventing storms from developing or strengthening.

The season runs through Nov. 30 but Sept. 10 is its peak time.