'Fujiwhara effect,' a rare weather event marked by dancing cyclones, expected this week

A rare, ultimately fatal dance is expected to occur this week between two hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This tango occurs when two storms get close enough for their circulations to interact, sending them pinwheeling around a fixed point between them somewhat like a meteorological version of a fidget spinner.

Hurricanes Hilary and Irwin will orbit around a fixed point during the middle of the week, until one storm absorbs the other, in a phenomenon known as the Fujiwara effect. 

What's even more remarkable is that at virtually the same time as the two eastern Pacific storms are interacting, an intensifying typhoon in the Northwest Pacific will also force another, weaker tropical weather system to twirl around its circulation, too.  Read more...

More about Climate, Science, Weather, Fujiwhara Effect, and Hurricane Hilary


via Tech Republiq