When two hurricanes come close enough to each other, they interact through a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect. This causes the storms to begin an intense "dance" around a common center, rotating around each other as if linked by an invisible tether
. The possible outcomes of this interaction include:
- If one hurricane is significantly stronger, the smaller storm will orbit the larger one and eventually be absorbed into its vortex, effectively merging into the bigger hurricane
- If the two hurricanes are closer in strength, they may spiral around each other for a while and then either merge into a single larger storm or separate and continue on their own paths
- In rare cases, the interaction can be additive, resulting in one larger, more intense hurricane instead of two smaller ones
This effect typically occurs when the storms are about 900 miles apart and both are spinning in the same direction
. The Fujiwhara effect was first described by Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara in 1921
. Additionally, when cyclones merge, there can be significant oceanic effects such as upwelling, where deep cold water rises to the surface, cooling sea temperatures by several degrees and potentially impacting the storm's intensity and surrounding environment
. In summary, when two hurricanes collide, they usually engage in a rotational interaction that can lead to absorption, merging, or mutual deflection, depending on their relative strengths and proximity. This interaction is known as the Fujiwhara effect and can sometimes produce a larger storm or influence weather patterns significantly
