Hurricane Earl could result in heavy rain in the UK this week.
(Picture: National Hurricane Center NOAA)Hurricane Earl has been expected to strengthen into a major hurricane on Thursday September 8 as it churns towards Bermuda, reports the New York Times.
Earl was upgraded from a tropical storm on Tuesday night, becoming the second hurricane of 2022’s Atlantic season.
The hurricane is currently approximately 325 miles south of Bermuda, according to the US National Hurricane Centre, with maximum sustained winds of 100mph and “significant strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days”.
But, how could this storm impact the United Kingdom? Here’s everything you need to know.
How could hurricane Earl impact the UK’s weather this week?
People in the United Kingdom are being warned that North Atlantic hurricanes could impact weekend weather, with Met Office experts saying this week’s repeating pattern of blustery showers will break for a time over the weekend, bringing a drier Saturday.
However, there is uncertainty over the interaction of the two successive tropical cyclones, and how they will affect weather patterns on our side of the Atlantic, reports Derby Telegraph.
An “unsettled ‘autumnal’ theme will remain dominant in the forecast this week”, according to the Met Office.
Paul Gundersen, a Met Office chief forecaster, said: “The influence of low pressure – with associated thunderstorms and bouts of heavy rain – will continue to dominate this week, especially on Friday. Though the low pressure will finally move eastwards on Saturday, meaning that many will have a dry day with some sunshine.
“There is a risk of potentially very heavy rain for a time on Friday for eastern and north-east England and southern Scotland. Adding in the risk of thunderstorms - which could bring gusty winds and heavy downpours where they form - many can expect an unsettled week.
“During autumn, forecasters have the added complication of trying to estimate the impacts of ex-hurricanes when they work their way into the North Atlantic. Although the cooler conditions outside of the tropics cause them to decay quickly, they can bring disruption to weather patterns by bringing lots of moist and relatively warm air which often becomes entrained within other home-grown weather systems.”
