Looking like a row of planes taxiing on a runway, a chain of brewing storms on the coast of West Africa is ready for takeoff into the Atlantic Ocean in this photo taken by the Meteosat-9 weather satellite on August 29.

Every year from mid-August until October the hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere kicks into high gear as the trade winds on either side of the Equator converge. The combination of heat from the African continent and the tropical moisture from the ocean creates the perfect recipe for the formation of tropical storms.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this year's hurricane season is on track to be more active than normal. (Related: "Improved Forecasting Will Help Track Hurricane Season.")

—Andrew Fazekas