TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A rare occurrence known as the Fujiwhara effect could impact Hurricane Helene’s path.
The Fujiwhara effect is when two areas of low pressure attract each other, when they normally would repel each other, according to Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Eric Stone.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines it as “a binary interaction where tropical cyclones within a certain distance (300-750 nm depending on the sizes of the cyclones) of each other begin to rotate about a common midpoint.”
“It’s something that you just don’t see — it’s very rare,” Stone said. “Usually two lows will repel each other, but in this case, they’re attracting each other.”
Stone said the high pressure system over Florida will also help steer the system north, something that was not present during Hurricane Ian.
“What’s going to happen is Helene is going to be sucked up — guided and attracted to that upper level low,” Stone said. “That’s what’s going to keep this thing moving more northerly than more northeasterly.”
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“Then what happens is it actually gets sucked into that upper level low, and the two systems will be combined into one,” he said. “By that time, it’s not going to be a strong storm, so it’s not like we’re going to have this super powerful storm, but it’s a really cool effect.”
The National Weather Service said one example of the Fujiwhara effect was in the East Pacific in 2017 with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin.
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