This rare weather event might explain Hurricane Helene’s unusual reach

The hurricane’s unusual reach as far north and inland as forecasters expect is raising questions about the Fujiwhara Effect.

Treacherous Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall Thursday evening on Florida’s northwestern coast and then continue on to torment parts of Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee with heavy rain, flash floods and gusty winds.

While Helene will likely weaken as it moves inland, its “fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States,” including in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the National Weather Service’s hurricane center said Thursday. Less severe tropical storm warnings were posted as far north as North Carolina.

The unusual reach as far north and inland as forecasters expect — and the potential impacts — are raising questions about the Fujiwhara Effect, a rare weather event.