Hurricane Lorenzo became the third major hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday. The massive storm was packing winds of 130mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Wind Scale. And Lorenzo could get even stronger, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned, with the storm potentially whipping out winds as high as 145mph.
NOAA said on Thursday: “While its exact ranking will be determined later, Lorenzo is one of the largest and most powerful hurricanes of record for the central tropical Atlantic, with the only comparable hurricane in recent times near there being Gabrielle of 1989.”
The agency added: “Lorenzo is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 255 miles.”
Despite Lorenzo’s size and strength, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
The hurricane is currently located 1,055 miles west of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands.
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Moving west-northwest at 13mph, it is expected to remain over open water for the next five days.
Additional strengthening is possible today, and fluctuations in intensity are expected tonight through Friday night.
However, the rapid intensification should end in the next six to 12 hours.
NOAA said: “Fluctuations in strength due to eyewall replacement cycles are expected during the 12-36 h period.
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“The global models suggest that Lorenzo will subsequently interact with an upper-level trough during recurvature, which should cause a period of increased shear and some weakening of the cyclone around 48h.
“By 120h, the hurricane should weaken due to movement over colder water and into strong shear in the mid-latitude westerlies.”
Despite Lorenzo’s current westerly movement, it could turn to the northeast by the end of the week.
According to spaghetti models, there is a chance the hurricane will reach the UK and Ireland next week.
Irish Weather Online said the hurricane will be close to the western coast of Europe.
Forecaster Prof Peter O’Donnell said: “Lorenzo is predicted to become a Category 3 Hurricane southwest of the Azores and now shows some signs of heading straight towards western Europe next week.
“The charts currently weaken it just before it arrives, and the centre goes to the south of Ireland rather than continuing on across Ireland, so in that event, the weather would likely be overcast and drizzly mid-week.
“Some warmer air is also lurking for later next week after the near miss from Lorenzo’s remnants.
“All of this is somewhat speculative and obviously subject to change, but all scenarios that we have seen in recent days have the common feature of active weather in a southwest flow and more cloud than clear skies, with frequent rain.”