2 Hurricanes? Well, not yet, as these are still considered tropical storms with one named Laura, and one an unnamed tropical depression aka T14.
This phenomenon is also known as the Fujiwhara effect. According to Wikipedia, this occurs when two nearby cyclonic vortices orbit each other and close the distance between the circulations of their corresponding low-pressure areas.
This has certainly been a year of learning new terms, like Fujiwhara, and if these two storms become hurricanes in the Gulf, it will be the first time in U.S. history. Something similar happened in the Philippine Sea on October 6, 2009.
What does this mean for the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States?
- Tropical Storm Laura (current winds of 45mph) is currently moving west and is expected to drop 3-6 inches of rain in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
- A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten/Martin, St. Bart, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and Montserrat
- A Watch is in effect for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (Cuba on alert)
- This storm has shifted west and is no longer targeting Florida
- TS Laura’s path will likely strengthen over the weekend and is projected to move over the Gulf toward Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama early next week
- TS Laura could strengthen to a category 1 hurricane by the end of the weekend
It’s uncertain at this time if this duo will turn into 2 hurricanes and if they’ll collide as they’re still miles apart.
TD14 (likey named Marco soon) is currently in the western Caribbean moving northwest toward the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The government of Mexico has upgraded the Tropical Storm Watch to a Warning north of Cancun to Dzilam (Dzilam is north of Merida).
These systems could make landfall in the United States a day apart and it is still too soon to know.
This continues to be breaking news and we’re also watching updates as to whether or not they’ll become 2 hurricanes. For the latest, visit the National Hurricane Center.
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