science

Hurricane tracker: NINE dangerous storms currently circle the globe


The remarkable satellite image shows extreme weather at its most lethal with four hurricanes, two tropical storms, a typhoon and two weather patterns brewing. They are al being monitored in what is known as an Invest.

Caribbean meteorologist site Jamaica Weather first posted the picture on Twitter with the caption: “This going to be a crazy end to the week! Take a look across the Tropics.”

Out of the nine storms on the map, Typhoon Mangkhut currently poses the most danger to any civilisation as it barrels towards the Philippines with sustained winds of 165 mph.

On the Atlantic side, Hurricane Florence makes its way towards the US as a Category 2 storm with winds of 110mph, after dropping from a category 4 yesterday.

Hurricane Isaac is posing a threat to the central Lesser Antilles with winds of 45mph before it moves into the Caribbean Sea, likely leaving flash flooding in its wake.

Hurricane Olivia is headed “directly” towards Hawaii with maximum sustained winds of 65mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Centre said on Tuesday.

The Weather Channel said: “The rain is going to be the biggest issue from Olivia, especially in some of the more central islands – some spots could see 8-12 inches of rain and that would definitely cause flooding, so be prepared.”

What makes the image more unusual is weather experts say it is extremely rare that powerful storms form in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the same time.

Phil Klotzbach, an atmospheric science researcher at Colorado State University, told NBC News: “The thing that’s interesting now is the Pacific is still active, but the Atlantic is very active, which isn’t normal.

“I’m surprised to see the Pacific and Atlantic active at the same time.”

Citizens around the globe have been left terrified by the image, with one user, Marcus Edwards, replying: “It’s going to get worse before it can get better unfortunately.

“Until people see the destruction affecting them they won’t do anything about it. Hopefully it won’t be too late.”

Scientists put the increase in storms down to climate change as ocean waters become warmer, making them a better breeding ground for the likes of hurricanes and typhoons.

Kristy Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said: “We do know these changes are happening.

“There is at least a hypothetical connection between hurricanes and warming ocean temperatures.”

A recent study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, read: “While hurricanes occur naturally, human‐caused climate change is supercharging them and exacerbating the risk of major damage.”



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