Three massive storms have caused widespread damage around the world over the past week, with two typhoons causing havoc in Alaska and Japan, while Hurricane Fiona has caused massive damage in Puerto Rico and neighboring islands such as the Dominican Republic and Guadeloupe. Each storm featured unusual characteristics such asread more
Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica with 165MPH winds and was the first Category 5 hurricane ever to strike the island. It is now headed toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and is continuing to strengthen. A typical autumnal weather pattern over the continental United States is expected to keep it offshore of the mainland as it turns north. Should it hit pockets of warm water in the South Atlantic, it has the potential to recover its strength. There is a remote possibility that it could surprise forecasters and move into the Caribbean.
All storm track models now see Maria moving northward well out to sea, but if it impacts the remains of Jose, it could still be pushed onshore somewhere along the Atlantic seaboard.
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Cyclone Phailin has become a larger version of Hurricane Sandy, a huge storm packing winds of 160 miles per hour, striking at one of the most heavily populate low-lying areas on Earth. The cyclone has the potential to cause massive damage, but so far barely 70,000 people of the millions in its path have fled the region. Twenty-six of the thirty-five most deadly storms in history have struck the Bay of Bengal. It was believed on Friday morning that it would lose some strength before going ashore, but it unexpectedly increased in power, very much as Hurricane Sandy did, and for the same reason: the waters the storm is crossing are warmer than normal.
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After Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the US recently, everyone wondered what climate change would bring us next. The future has arrived: A typhoon swept through the Philippines killing 400 people (and 400 more are missing and may be dead).
Also, three people are dead, seven are in the hospital and hundreds have been left homeless after a tornado ripped through parts of Auckland, New Zealand.
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