Updated Oct. 2, 2019 4:24 PM
After Lorenzo lashed the Azores with fierce winds and pounding surf, residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland are the next in line to face significant impacts from the storm.
As of late Wednesday morning, Lorenzo had transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone and was located about 950 miles west-southwest of Cork, Ireland.
Lorenzo remains a noticeably large storm, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 150 miles (240 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 390 miles (630 km).
With the Azores now in its rearview mirror, Lorenzo on Wednesday raced toward Ireland and the United Kingdom.
While some modest weakening is forecast prior to reaching the British Isles, Lorenzo is still expected to pack quite a punch as it makes a direct hit on the islands from late Thursday into Friday.
Lorenzo will track around an area of high pressure centered over Spain which will act as a shield, preventing Lorenzo from reaching the Iberian Peninsula and forcing the storm northward toward the British Isles.
Lorenzo is forecast to make landfall in Ireland or Northern Ireland as a powerful post-tropical storm with hurricane-force wind gusts by early Thursday night.
Powerful winds may then result in widespread tree damage, power cuts, significant travel disruptions and some damage to homes and businesses from Thursday night into Friday.
The areas at greatest risk of damaging impacts are expected to be across Ireland, Northern Ireland and coastal locations of southern Wales and southwestern England.
"Frequent wind gusts of 50-75 mph (80-120 km/h) are expected in these areas with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 100 mph (160 km/h)," AccuWeather Meteorological Tyler Roys said.
Rainfall from Lorenzo, on top of recent heavy rain, will result in a high risk for flooding across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and western England. "Local rainfall in excess of 50 mm (2 inches) is possible in these areas," added Roys.
Leaves that are still on trees may potentially increase the risk of tree damage and power outages and also elevate the risk of flooding due to clogged drains as the strong winds cause a significant leaf fall.
Satellite animation of Lorenzo tracking north of the Azores on Wednesday.
"In addition to flooding from Lorenzo's rainfall, significant coastal flooding will be a concern, especially at times of high tide," said Roys.
Dangerous seas will also threaten any boating and shipping interests across the North Atlantic west of the British Isles into Friday with increasingly rough seas expected in the Irish Sea, British Channel and North Sea.
Impacts ranging from coastal flooding to travel delays and locally strong winds are also expected across northern France and may extend into Belgium and the Netherlands as a weakening Lorenzo brings downpours and gusty winds Friday into Friday night.
While strong winds and rain are not expected from western France into the Iberian Peninsula, large swells from Lorenzo will pose hazards to marine traffic and coastal communities.
Lorenzo is forecast to be the strongest post-tropical cyclone to affect Ireland and the United Kingdom since Ophelia in 2017.
Lorenzo became a Category 5 major hurricane Saturday night, prior to weakening some on Sunday and Monday. In doing so, Lorenzo became the strongest hurricane to be located that far north and east in the Atlantic.
Colorado State University Meteorologist Philip Klotzbach said that Lorenzo became the largest hurricane this far east in the Atlantic on record. Records for Atlantic hurricane size go back to 1988, he said on Twitter.
Satellite image of Lorenzo racing toward the British Isles on Wednesday afternoon, local time. (EUMETSAT/satellite image)
Lorenzo battered the Azores Tuesday night into early Wednesday with damaging winds, dangerous surf and downpours.
A wind gust of 101 mph (163 km/h) was reported on Corvo Island along with a wind gust of 90 mph (145 km/h) on Faial Island and a gust of 88 mph (142 km/h) on Flores Island.
The main port on the island of Flores was severely damaged by rough seas and powerful winds, according to the Azores Civil Protection Agency.
At least 39 people had to be evacuated, and no injuries have been reported.
The powerful winds also caused widespread downed trees and power lines across several of the islands.
No comments:
Post a Comment