News Climate

Warm tropical Atlantic waters juiced the 2017 hurricane season

The ocean’s unusually high sea-surface temperatures were a bigger factor than La Niña’s effect on winds

hurricane satellite image

ACTIVE ATLANTIC  A snapshot of the Atlantic Ocean on September 8, 2017, shows three storms swirling in a row, including hurricanes Katia (left), Irma (center) and Jose (right).

NOAA View Global Data Explorer/Wikimedia Commons

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Very warm waters in the tropical Atlantic Ocean were the primary cause behind the region’s many strong hurricanes last year, including powerhouse storms Harvey and Maria, a new study finds.