In a rare and fascinating display of nature’s power, a trio of hurricanes formed a perfect line in the North Atlantic Ocean back in September 2017. The three hurricanes, named Katia, Irma, and Jose, were captured in a satellite image taken by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite.
Despite appearing to be following each other, the hurricanes were actually moving in different directions. Hurricane Katia made landfall in Mexico, Hurricane Irma struck Florida, and Hurricane Jose eventually dissipated off the New England coast. This phenomenon of three hurricanes lining up so closely together in hurricane alley, the expanse of water between Northwest Africa and the Gulf of Mexico where most Atlantic hurricanes form, is quite rare.
Hurricane Irma, the most destructive of the three storms, caused extensive damage in Florida with storm surges, heavy rainfall, and strong winds. In fact, at one point, Hurricane Irma held the record for the greatest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) of any tropical storm on global record. However, this record was later broken by Cyclone Freddy in 2023.
Researchers suggest that rising ocean temperatures due to human-caused climate change are making hurricanes more powerful on average. In fact, some experts believe that a new sixth hurricane category may need to be created to categorize future storms. The upcoming 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be particularly active with up to 25 named storms expected, attributed to record-breaking surface temperatures from a recent El Niño event.
It’s important to understand the impact of these powerful storms on our environment and communities. By studying these hurricanes and their behavior, scientists can better predict and prepare for future storms. The alignment of three hurricanes in 2017 serves as a reminder of the immense power of nature and the importance of climate change mitigation efforts.
