This study investigates the relationship between tropical cyclone (TC) tracks and climatological variations
in large-scale environmental parameters associated with the TC steering flow. By using the Atlantic Ocean
hurricane database for 1950–2010, TCs that form in the main development region (MDR) are categorized into
one of three track types: straight moving, recurving landfall, or recurving ocean. As expected, the straightmoving
storms are associated with a westward extension and strengthening of the subtropical high, whereas
the recurving ocean storms are associated with a weakening of the high. The presence of El Nin˜o conditions in
the tropical Pacific Ocean is shown to be associated with a weakening of the high, an increase in the percentage
of recurving ocean TCs, and a decrease in the percentage of recurving landfall TCs. Positive phases of
the Atlantic Meridional Mode are associated with an increase in the percentage of recurving ocean TCs and
a decrease in the percentage of straight-moving TCs. Synthetic tracks are simulated for each storm using
a beta and advection model. Sensitivity experiments using both observed and uniformly seeded genesis locations
indicate that the path of straight-moving TCs is largely a reflection of their tendency to form in the
southwestern portion of the MDR rather than of differences in steering flow. These experiments also suggest
that the shift in TC tracks associated with El Nin˜o/La Nin˜ a conditions is largely attributable to changes in the
steering flow, whereas the track changes associated with variations in the Atlantic Meridional Mode are due to
a systematic shift in genesis location.