It’s hurricane season, and something we watch very closely is wind shear. It’s essentially a change in wind speed or direction as you go higher up in the atmosphere, and it can be a hurricane’s worst enemy, especially when a storm is young.

In a weaker system scenario, strong upper-level winds can attack a developing storm. They tilt it over, leaving the center exposed and cutting off its energy source. This can cause the system to weaken significantly or even dissipate completely before it becomes a major threat.

On the other hand, a more mature, powerful hurricane has a better chance of fighting off that shear. Its structure is more established. The storm will likely weaken in a hostile environment, but it doesn’t automatically fall apart.

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