🌅 The Closest Hurricanes in the Satellite Era

SOURCE

NOAA National Hurricane Center

WHAT TO KNOW

• Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto came within 486 miles of each other as they swept through the western Atlantic on Tuesday, September 30. It’s the closest two Atlantic hurricanes have come together in the satellite era (since 1966).

WHY IT MATTERS

• When two hurricanes get close to one another, it creates a semi-rare phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara Effect, during which the hurricanes essentially orbit each other as they’re pulled together by their massive low pressure systems. When the two storms are of equal strength, they can orbit each other and then release. At other times, the storms can merge into one stronger storm.

CONNECT THE DOTS

• In the case of Imelda and Humberto, their proximity likely saved the east coast, as Imelda was on a direct path to reach land and Humberto essentially dragged it back over the Atlantic. Imelda eventually pushed northeast before dissipating, while Humberto’s rapid intensification made it the second Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Basin this season.