How does this connect to hurricane season?

The same downpours and thunderstorms that drench a belt of central Africa are what generate the precursors to many Atlantic hurricanes. The Atlantic's "Main Development Region," a zone between Africa and the Caribbean within which classic long-track hurricanes form, is fed by areas of thunderstorms associated with the ITCZ.

These areas, known as tropical waves, can develop into hurricanes under ideal conditions. But if the tropical waves fall apart, then there's nothing to spawn a hurricane, even if other environmental conditions favor it.

That's what's been happening lately. With the ITCZ so far north, tropical waves have been exiting Africa closer to Morocco and Western Sahara rather than Senegal and Gambia. Those tropical waves have been ingesting cooler, sandier air and passing over only lukewarm waters, which is why the waves have been falling apart. That's why there hasn't been any long-track Atlantic hurricanes lately.

This pattern could continue for another week or so. The desert will face localized deluges as rains wander much farther north than normal.