Atlantic hurricane duo generates stunning satellite image

Two tropical cyclones (hurricanes) are currently operating in the North Atlantic Ocean. Relatively close together, the two storms end up providing stunning satellite images of the hurricane duo. These are Tropical Cyclones Lee and Margot. Only one of them poses a danger to the continental regions of North America.

Hurricane Lee, which a few days ago reached Category 5, is the maximum on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. It was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 180 km/h and a central pressure of 951 hPa late this morning, with its center about 800 kilometers south of Bermuda.

Tomorrow and Thursday, Lee will overtake a large ridge of high pressure in the North Atlantic, which will take the tropical cyclone on a northward track with faster displacement. As it moves toward Morte, Lee will also increase in size and its winds will weaken, even though it should reach a much larger area.

Lee will soon move over the cold waters left by the recent passage of Hurricanes Franklin and Idalia. It is expected to make landfall over the weekend with tropical storm force. Close to making landfall, Lee will transition to a post-tropical storm, meaning it will be an extratropical cyclone.

Lee’s large size means the storm will bring heavy rains to much of Canada’s Atlantic coast and northeastern New England in the United States. The rain is not welcome because New England has had one of its wettest summers on record and heavy rains are likely to cause flooding.

Margot is a storm that will remain in the open sea and pose no danger to the continent. Tropical Storm Margot became the fifth hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic season late yesterday afternoon. Based on average data from 1991 to 2020, the fifth hurricane in the Atlantic typically occurs on October 15 and this year it occurred in the first half of September, indicating a more active season than usual.