In 2023, Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Franklin became the first time two Category 2 storms were captured together on satellite imagery in the Atlantic basin since 1950.
The rare occurrence got more than a few people wondering the same thing: What would happen if two hurricanes collided? Well, it turns out Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara answered this question more than a hundred years ago: The Fujiwhara Effect.
Idalia and Franklin never collided, but Tropical Storm Humberto and Invest 94L, which seems poised to become Imedla, could demonstrate the Fujiwhara Effect next week.
What is the Fujiwhara Effect?
The Fujiwhara Effect is when two hurricanes, spinning in the same direction, closely pass each other, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
As the two storms converge, they begin to dance around their common core. When one storm is stronger than the other, the weaker one will eventually be absorbed by the stronger storm.
When both storms are close in strength one of two things will happen: The storms will merge at a common point or they will break off into two separate paths.
Could Tropical Storm Humberto and Invest 94L merge?
It’s a possibility, according to AccuWeather.
In the current scenario, Humberto already has a leg up on Invest 94L. Forecasts show that Humberto could become a major Category 4 hurricane, which could inhibit Invest 94L’s development.
AccuWeather says that there is a chance that Humberto becomes so strong that it could absorb the developing Invest 94L, or rob it of much of its moisture.
Have two hurricanes ever collided?
The Fujiwhara Effect has been observed a few times in the past. In 2021, tropical cyclones Seroja and Odette meet off the western coast of Australia. The two storms began to dance around each other when they were about 870 miles from each other. Within about two days, the weaker cyclone, Odette, was absorbed as they moved within about 310 miles of each other.
Hurricane Irwin and Hurricane Hilary “collided” with each other in August 2017 in the eastern Pacific Ocean in a similar fashion. The two storms only merged briefly, however, before each shot off into their own path and dissipated before ever making landfall.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: What happens when hurricanes collide? Humberto, Invest 94L could show us next week
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
