cc-sorry I did not respond sooner...subsidence is SINKING air, usually under higher pressure and it represses convection...this has been a prevelant pattern all season, and as Steve pointed out has been caused by a vigorous high that has pushe the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) further south...these waves usually come across between 10-15 degrees,and this batch and those earlier have been at 5-10 and the air is VERY DRY. I understand the sea surface temps ( SST) are cooler than normal too. until this breaks, and it is getting late in the season, there may not be a Cape Verde season at all.
What does anybody else think?
EDS.