Influence of The Madden-Julian Oscillation on Continental United States Hurricane Landfalls | CU Experts

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) significantly impacts North Atlantic; hurricanes, with more hurricane activity occurring when the MJO favors; enhanced convection over Africa and the tropical Indian Ocean and; suppressed hurricane activity occurring when the MJO favors enhanced; convection over the tropical Pacific. Using data from 1905-2015, we find; more hurricanes make landfall in the continental US when the MJO; enhances convection over the tropical Indian Ocean. In addition, when; the MJO enhances convection over the Western Hemisphere, tropical; cyclones tend to form in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean, leading to; more Gulf Coast landfalls. As the MJO moves to the Indian Ocean, more; storms form in the tropical Atlantic, increasing the number of Florida; and East Coast landfalls. The MJO’s modulation of tropical cyclone; steering winds appears to be secondary to its effects on genesis; locations.

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