Hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean has picked up steam in the last few weeks, with multiple named hurricanes making their way towards the US and Europe following a period of relative quiet.
Hurricane Helene, which devastated the Southeast of the US and claimed over 230 lives, was the most recent natural disaster to make headlines.
There have also previously been reports about Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce, which did not impact land as they developed and dispersed over the ocean.
However, as Hurricane Kirk approaches Europe, what is the danger for the UK?
Will Hurricane Kirk impact UK weather?
Should the prognosis remain unchanged, we are in for a slight blow.
The worst of the weather is predicted to occur over continental Europe. However, a yellow weather warning is in place for the UK and covers cities and towns such as Leeds, York and Middlesbrough.
These areas can expect heavy rain until 3pm on Wednesday, October 9.
The rest of the UK can expect a rather cloudy and rainy day, especially in eastern parts of England. A northerly breeze might be felt across all of the UK until Thursday, October 10.
From Friday, October 11, the south of England is expected to have sunny spells and light winds, while it will remain cloudy up north.
What is going on in Florida?
While Hurricane Kirk is heading east towards mainland Europe, Florida has a bigger hurricane to worry about: Milton.
The hurricane is predicted to make landfall late on Wednesday, October 9.
US President Joe Biden stated that it might be "the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century". Millions of people have been advised to evacuate their homes, and the Tampa Bay area now confronts the threat of massive catastrophe.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Milton has strengthened back into a category 5 hurricane, sustaining winds up to 165mph.
Hurricane #Milton Advisory 15: Milton Back to Category 5 Strength. Florida Residents Should Get Their Families and Homes Ready And Evacuate If Told to Do So. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 8, 2024
Virgin Atlantic announced that it had changed its flight schedule as a result of the hurricane, adding that there may be delays and cancellations for flights to and from Orlando and Tampa.
It is advised that passengers flying to or from these locations visit the airline's website to obtain up-to-date information.
Why does America get hurricanes?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that tropical waves frequently combine with warm ocean waters to form hurricanes.
Thunderstorms could possibly be their source of energy. The weather system advances west as warm ocean air rises into it, and that creates a low-pressure area underneath it, the NOAA stated.
America’s geography makes it highly vulnerable to hurricanes, as this is a region where warm ocean waters and thunderstorms unite.
But there are some areas in the US at a higher risk than others to experience the impacts of a hurricane.
America’s East Coast is very warm, a primary reason why they always hit Florida.
