Tropical cyclone conveyer belt

On the evening of August 28th, we experienced a dramatic electrical storm in Dakar, which has since developed into a named cyclonic storm, Ike, currently bearing down on the Caribbean with 115 mph, category 3 hurricane force winds.  Several days later, we had another strong system pass over us.  This system, given the name Josephine, has fizzled in the past day, and is not expected to re-intensify. 

Last week, an ISD colleague remembered the strength of the north African storm which eventually became Hurricane Katrina.  It, too, passed over Dakar, tracking west.

Should you be interested in learning more about the connection between the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) in north Africa, and tropical hurricanes in the Atlantic, see the media links at

http://www.becauseoftime.org/ISD/ScenesDakar/html (Gallery 11).