The periodic El Nino winds, which cause such havoc when they hit the West Coast every few years, may be having a beneficial effect on the Caribbean this year. Climate experts say that El Nino conditions tend to create crosswinds that disrupt the formation of hurricanes in the Caribbean basin, and also may cause the early breakup of big storms that do manage to form. With El Nino back in 2006, this could help explain why we've had a comparatively mild hurricane season so far this year.

If you're interested in learning more about how hurricanes form and how to prepare for them, check out this Hurricane Information and Safety article by About.com's Florida travel guide, Dawn Henthorn.