Atlantic hurricane season is continuing to deliver powerful hurricanes, with hurricane Lorenzo the third major hurricane to exceed category three status so far. Earlier this week, Lorenzo was recorded as being a category four hurricane, with wind speeds of 145mph. This made the dangerous cyclone the strongest hurricane ever to be recorded in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
On Thursday, NHC forecaster Eric Blake tweeted to say Lorenzo’s size resembled that of a super typhoon in the western Pacific Ocean more than an eastern Atlantic hurricane.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) latest update at 11am AST (4pm BST) Lorenzo was located approximately 1500 miles south-west of The Azores.
Maximum sustained wind speeds were recorded as being 115mph with higher gusts.
The NHC warns: “Lorenzo is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from the centre, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles.”
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Lorenzo is forecast to remain a strong hurricane when it turns toward northeastward towards the Azores, with only slow weakening forecast.
The NHC also said: “Swells generated by Lorenzo are affecting portions of the
northeastern coast of South America and the Lesser Antilles and are expected to spread westward to portions of the north coasts of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the east coast of the United States during the next few days.
“Swells are also expected to build near the Azores on Sunday and Monday.
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“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
The area of winds around Lorenzo is expected to remain large, and the hurricane-force radius is predicted to grow over the next few days.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: “Lorenzo may eventually be a threat to the Azores later next week.”
Accuweather also reports after passing the Azores, Lorenzo will then move towards Europe and could impact the UK and Ireland.
Read More: Hurricane Lorenzo path: NOAA warning as storm churns across Atlantic
Spaghetti models demonstrate the potential move across the Atlantic, where Lorenzo could cause strong winds and rough surf for Europe.
This hurricane season across the Atlantic and Eastern bases as been one of the most active – generating 15 named storms since August 21.
Meteorologist at Colorado State University Philip Klotzbach wrote on Twitter: “This is the most on record for the Western Hemisphere between Aug. 21 – Sept. 23, breaking the old record of 15 named storms set in 1984 and 2002.”
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts until November 30, so there is still time for yet more named storms to form.
Lorenzo quickly grew in strength earlier this week after exiting the African coast and heading into the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
On Wednesday, Lorenzo was declared the fifth Atlantic hurricane of the season, before rapidly strengthening into a major hurricane on Thursday.
Elsewhere, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, potential tropical cyclone 16 is expected to form into a tropical cyclone soon.
The weather system is located 140miles south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico and is expected to bring torrential rains to southwestern Mexico.