The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration state that since the 1970s, global warming has affected the oceans and land masses and reduced vertical wind shear worldwide. The rise in ocean temperature and height, hotter summers and milder winters have made today's average hurricane more powerful than its counterpart 50 years ago.
A hurricane or tropical storm traveling over warm ocean water intensifies. A weakening hurricane will regain strength if it swings back into a warm ocean environment.
Vertical wind shear is a rapid change in wind speed or direction. Low wind shear will increase a hurricane's strength, whereas high wind shear weakens it.
A sub-tropical ridge is a high pressure belt. When both the tropical Atlantic belt warms and the central and eastern Atlantic belt amplifies, hurricanes become more powerful.