[George from New England]

Me thinks it is the dust from the Sahara winds that are keeping this storm away from Florida. Keeping it south in the Caribbean.

[zeestephen]

I know Sahara dust is important, but I am not an expert.

I am thinking more in terms of the water temperature, which fuels the wind strength.

The Atlantic Ocean off northwest Africa is unusually cool, which is not helpful for storm formation.

East of the Caribbean, the water is warmer than usual, but not hugely warmer.

A hurricane of this strength - if 140 mph sustained is correct - is very unusual on July 1st.

[subterfuge]

No it’s 2 high pressure zones north of the gulf of Mexico.