Forecasters and others closely watching the Northern part of the Atlantic this weekend: Two storms, Michael and Leslie, appear to be heading for the same part of the Northern reaches of the planet .. And their tracks are close enough to make some wonder if they can converge into a larger storm.. Perhaps it could be the storm to end all storms! the storm of the century! the big one!
Or perhaps none of that will occur.. Much ado about nothing?
If the storms did converge where would they go? Would they retain their individual identity? Their name could change? Would we name it Meslie or Lichael? Or Lilly? or .. Michelle? Possibilities are endless.
But the facts are these: Michael remains a very strong and impressive storm in the Atlantic Ocean right now. In just 12 hours from being named, it quickly became a category 3 storm. According to Accuweather,
"As Leslie intensifies and becomes larger, it should influence the northward movement of Michael in about 4-5 days. This will also exert increased shear over the storm [Michael], causing it weaken during early next week," Kottlowski stated.Michael's path will also be over colder water, another factor that will favor weakening.
Both storms will be moving over cooler waters as they travel, which will cause a degrading of their power regardless of how strong and impressive they are now.
The NATIONAL HURRICANE site of obviously tracking both storms.. this graphic may be of interest, as it appears to show a possibility of power converging in the Atlantic .. in the middle of the water..
BUT..
The other important fact is this: Can two hurricanes combine and form one? It sounds like an appealing proposition for a Hollywood movie (or a new Art Bell and Whitley Streiber book) .. but the fact remains that wind shear from a stronger storm or cold waters will most likely cause one or the other to weaken, or they will interact with each other and weaken on their own. One storm will cause another to fall apart.. the ocean is only big enough in a sense. A match made in hell or marriage made in the ocean is unlikely with two storms.
However..
There is something called the Fujiwhara effect.. that is when two storms appear to begin orbiting around each other.. Even in that weather oddity, the merging of the two storms is uncommon and rare..
In our world..
Anything is possible.
The HORROR REPORT will put its money on the likelihood that the storms will stay separate and one or the other, or both, will weaken in their travels. That's my money. But don't take that to the bank.. I don't have much money and I am not a forecaster by degreed-trade.
Watching those waters churn.. and wondering which storms will be the first to say "This ocean is only big enough for one of us"..