Hurricane Florence: Track and Classification

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Hurricane Florence was a Cape Verde hurricane. These types of Atlantic hurricanes originate from low latitudes in the deep tropics form from tropical waves that pass over or near the Cape Verde Islands. Cape Verde hurricanes are often the largest and most intense storms because they often move due west, avoiding any interaction with land, and movement over cool water, which would weaken the storm. Most Cape Verde storms develop in August and September, the during the peak of hurricane season.

The path of a Cape Verde hurricane is mainly westward, due to the placement of the subtropical ridge. The placement and strength of the ridge help determine how long the hurricane remains on a westward track and when it will turn toward the north.