Precursor climate aspects of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season had several notable characteristics including relatively few tropical cyclone formations in the east and central Atlantic Ocean, exceptionally active months of July and October, and a record number of U.S. major hurricanes landfalls (4). Precursory and concurrent climate signals to the high levels of activity are discussed and compared with other historic seasons. Prevailing steering currents are also also examined and contrasted to 2004, another year which saw high numbers of hurricane landfalls. In addition, the role of high-latitude blocking activity during the preceding winter is explored as a mechanism for contributing to the record warm Atlantic basin sea-surface temperatures observed in 2005.