A duo of significant tropical storms loom over the UK, posing a potential threat of heavy rainfall as meteorologists consider the possibility of a rare ‘Fujiwhara’ phenomenon resulting from their interaction.
Hurricane Humberto and tropical storm Imelda are expected to impact the western Atlantic region in the coming days, affecting areas such as the Caribbean and the western US coastline. Humberto, now positioned south of Bermuda, has intensified into a major category 4 hurricane recently.
Concurrently, a second storm named Imelda has emerged, with forecasts indicating its progression into a hurricane as it tracks north from the Bahamas. Both storms are projected to veer northward within the next 24 hours before making a sharp eastward turn across the Atlantic.
Anticipating dangerous conditions and high waves in parts of Florida and Georgia, meteorologists are assessing the potential implications of these weather systems on the UK and Europe. By midweek, the storms are forecasted to move eastward into the Atlantic, possibly being caught by the jet stream and directed towards the British Isles.
Although reduced in intensity, the approaching weather systems still hold the capacity to bring disruptive weather to UK shores. Preceding the storms, a frontal system is set to impact the UK on Wednesday, prompting a yellow rain warning for parts of western Scotland from Wednesday evening until early Friday morning.
Subsequently, heavier rainfall is anticipated as the remnants of Hurricane Humberto make landfall over the weekend, accompanied by strong winds and large waves, likely leading to further weather alerts. Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to take a longer route, remaining at sea for at least a week with uncertainties regarding its trajectory towards the UK.
There are predictions that the arrival of the storm system could mark the UK’s first named storm of the season. However, the precise interaction between the two storms poses challenges for accurate forecasting, as their proximity may influence each other’s paths and strength in complex ways.
According to AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, the stronger Humberto may divert Imelda away from the US and towards the open sea. The potential merging of the storms into a ‘Fujiwhara’ scenario, where two smaller storms combine into a larger one, remains uncertain.
The BBC’s forecasters suggest that while Humberto is expected to move eastward swiftly, some of its residual energy and moisture may integrate into Storm Imelda as it progresses.