A slew of dangerous storms, hurricanes, tropical storms, and a typhoon, are on the move and threatening life and property in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Florence, and two tropical storms, Helene and Isaac. The NHC has also issued an advisory for the Eastern Pacific on Tropical Storm Paul, and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center has issued advisories for Hurricane Olivia, which is moving quickly westward toward Hawaii.
According to The Weather Channel, a typhoon named Mangkhut is also intensifying in the western Pacific and is on track to hit Guam, Rota, Saipan, and Tinian on Monday. The National Weather Service has issued a warning saying Mangkhut will bring tropical storm force winds between 65 and 100 knots.
These many concurrent tropical cyclones are notable, according to NHC scientist Eric Blake. He tweeted on Friday, “Globally, this is a remarkable day. I can’t find another example of a hurricane/typhoon nearing Guam, Hawaii & the eastern United States at almost exactly the same time (days ~ 4,5,6 respectively).”
As of the NHC’s advisory issued at 11 p.m. EST Sunday, Hurricane Florence is expected to strengthen to a major hurricane of Category 3 or above by Monday night and is forecast to move over the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is expected to approach the southeastern U.S. coast on Thursday. According to aircraft data, its maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph.
