Can Two Hurricanes Combine to Become One Big Hurricane?
Friday September 5, 2008
Two hurricanes merging and combining to become one big hurricane is the topic of several reader emails in light of the close proximity of storms such as Gustav, Hanna, Ike, and Josephine. One reader in particular sent this question
What would happen if two hurricanes come together? Would they make a big storm or would they tear each other apart? Such as if Ike caught up to Hanna what would happen?
There are several possible outcomes for what can happen when hurricanes combine...more.
Comments
Two hurricanes combine. In your article you state that hurricanes start as tropical depressions off the westvcoast of Africa. I thought tropical depressions also started in the Caribbean Sea? I seem to remember seeing tropical storms form south of Cuba and then move up into the Gulf of Mexico?
If a hurricane did start in the Caribbean Sea moving up into the Gulf of Mexico, and a hurricane was moving west form the Atlantic crossing Florida into the Gulf of Mexico, what would happen?
True! I have a link here for you.
Subtropical Cyclones
It is a story I have not gotten around to yet, but it really answers your question. In fact, make sure you click on some of the links in the article because many are images. For instance, Nicole formed near Bermuda.
As for them meeting, the same information would hold true. The larger storm would likely dissipate the smaller storm, or alter its track. They may show a Fujiwhara Effect, but they won’t just slam into each other.