Map spanning the eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic basins showing sea surface temperature (SST) averaged during August-September 1991-2020. Black contour indicates the 26C isotherm (constant line of SST -- temperatures above this value are more likely to support TCs).
Map spanning the eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic basins showing mid-level relative humidity averaged during August-September 1991-2020. More moist air tends to better support the thunderstorms that "power" TCs.
Map spanning the eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic basins showing vertical wind shear averaged during August-September 1991-2020. Lower values of wind shear (lighter colors) tend to better support the development of disturbances that can become TCs. Wind shear values higher than the black contour tend to be too strong.
Map spanning the eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic basins showing potential intensity averaged during August-September 1991-2020. Higher values of potential intensity imply a more thermodynamically favorable environment: air parcels have more energy and can more easily rise to release that energy into the atmosphere, helping the thunderstorms that "power" TCs.
I host a webpage on the six "ingredients" for tropical cyclone (TC) formation. It's powered by Python & by freely-available online resources.
I invite you to use it as a reference when discussing factors like SSTs! Expect more updates over the next few months.
kouya.has.arizona.edu/tropics/ingr...