Photo: Hurricane Secrets May Be Revealed by African Thunderstorms

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The Saharan air layer—containing massive dust storms that blow west off the Sahara every three to five days—swirls over Africa's west coast. Scientists are studying how the air layer might hinder African thunderstorms from developing into full-fledged hurricanes.

Most of these thunderstorms fizzle out long before becoming dangerous, but some develop into severe named storms, and scientists want to know why.

Photograph courtesy Jason Dunion, NOAA

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