Two tropical cyclones are swirling in the Atlantic Ocean on a potential collision course, raising the possibility of a rare weather event that could create a massive storm system threatening the East Coast.
Tropical Storm Humberto developed in the North Atlantic on Wednesday and is projected to become a major hurricane this weekend. Meanwhile, another system in the Caribbean may soon strengthen into Tropical Storm Imelda, according to Fox Weather meteorologist Greg Diamond.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
“If these two storms get too close, they could trigger the rare phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara Effect,” the New York Post reported.
The Fujiwhara Effect, named for Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara in 1921, happens when two cyclones come within 900 miles of each other and begin orbiting a shared center. “Or simply, they dance around each other,” the Post noted.
What happens next depends on the size and strength of the storms. The National Weather Service said they can spin around each other before fading apart, or in rare instances, smash together into one giant storm. In some cases, the stronger storm absorbs the weaker one.
Order Jonathan Cahn’s Newest Book, “The Avatar” on Amazon.com!
Diamond emphasized that the occurrence is more common in the Pacific than the Atlantic. “This is mostly due to the West Pacific producing more tropical systems each year than the Atlantic,” he said. “When it does occur, it’s usually in the open ocean and far away from land.”
Humberto’s path
Humberto, moving northwest at 8 mph with 50-mph sustained winds, is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 hurricane by early next week. While the storm is not forecast to make landfall in the United States, Bermuda could be in its path.
“There is high confidence that the center of Humberto will remain out to sea and away from the United States, posing no direct threat,” Diamond said. “At most, some extra rain will be possible in the Carolinas due to a brief intrusion of moisture from the periphery of the storm. Residents in Bermuda will need to watch the forecast closely as it could impact the island next week.”
Imelda’s potential track
The second system, Invest 94L, is currently bringing heavy rain to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola. Forecasters say it could strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane in the coming days.
Diamond said the storm could “threaten the Georgia and Carolina coasts with damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy flooding starting Sunday.” He also noted it may weaken over the Dominican Republic or stall near the Bahamas or South Florida before heading back out to sea.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
Despite the alarming scenarios, meteorologists say a storm collision is unlikely. “When it comes to Humberto and soon-to-be Imelda, the higher-odds scenario now is that the large upper-level low-pressure system and front that’s producing the rain from the Gulf Coast to New England will pick up likely-Imelda and pull it north,” Diamond explained. “If this happens, likely-Imelda and Humberto maintain enough distance from each other that they don’t ‘Fujiwhara.’”
A call to prayer
As these storms develop, believers are reminded that the Bible shows God’s power over the seas and the winds. From calming the storm in the Gospels to setting boundaries for the oceans in Job, Scripture makes clear that the Lord rules over creation. Let us pray for those in the potential path of these storms and take comfort in knowing that God remains sovereign over the earth He created.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
