WINK Tracks the Tropics || June 24, 2026

Saharan dust, transported from the Sahara Desert across the Atlantic by trade winds, creates dry air in the mid and upper atmosphere that suppresses tropical storm development by choking off moisture, which is why Southwest Florida typically experiences fewer tropical storms during summer months (June-August) when this dust plume is present; this same dry air also reduces local rainfall chances and increases fire risk, as demonstrated by the severe drought conditions in Southwest Florida in June 2026 with over half the month being dry days and lightning strikes occurring 10+ miles from parent storms without accompanying rain.