Understanding Storm Éowyn: Is It a Hurricane or a Bomb Cyclone?
Storm Éowyn has brought hurricane-force winds, primarily due to a jet stream-driven bomb cyclone. While it has recorded wind speeds over 114 mph, it is distinct from hurricanes as it forms due to atmospheric conditions typical in mid-latitudes. With unprecedented strength, the storm may be classified as one of the worst to affect the UK in recent history.
Storm Éowyn has unleashed hurricane-force winds across the UK and Ireland, prompting forecasters to issue warnings about its explosive effects, including deadly winds and heavy precipitation. The situation is marked as the worst storm of the season thus far, with the Met Office declaring rare red weather warnings in Northern Ireland and Scotland, along with widespread amber warnings affecting much of the UK.
According to Met Eireann, Storm Éowyn has recorded winds peaking at 114 mph in Ireland, surpassing the previous record set by Hurricane Debbie in 1961. Given its intensity, forecasters caution that this could potentially be the ‘storm of the century’, with strong winds anticipated throughout the UK.
Professor Liz Bentley from the Royal Meteorological Society clarifies that while Storm Éowyn exhibits hurricane-force winds, it does not qualify as a hurricane. Hurricanes develop over warm tropical oceans, starting from clusters of thunderstorms, whereas Storm Éowyn derives its energy from the jet stream—a strong atmospheric current that directs storms from the Atlantic to the UK.
Dr. Ambrogio Volonté from the University of Reading explains that although Storm Éowyn’s winds exceed hurricane-force speeds (73 mph), its formation process differs. Hurricanes rely on warm ocean water, while bomb cyclones—a type of storm characteristic of mid-latitude regions—are intensified by jet stream activity.
The term ‘bomb cyclone’ refers to the rapid intensification of a cyclone, known as bombogenesis. Dr. Nicholas Leach from the University of Oxford describes Storm Éowyn as an “extratropical cyclone” that has intensified significantly in a short duration, marking it as one of the most impactful winter storms in Northern Europe.
Dr. Volonté warns that Storm Éowyn is developing rapidly, recently experiencing a pressure drop of 50 hPa in just 24 hours—an occurrence that far exceeds the standard definition of a bomb cyclone. He notes the exceptional intensity of this storm as it approaches the western UK, classifying it among the strongest storms recorded in the region.
Storm Éowyn is a significant weather event characterized as a bomb cyclone, a term denoting rapid cyclone intensification. Despite exhibiting hurricane-force winds, it differs from a hurricane, which forms over warm tropical waters. Understanding the storm’s dynamics is crucial, especially as it poses threats of severe weather, including damaging winds and rainfall. Meteorologists underscore the importance of recognizing the differences in storm classifications based on their formation processes and associated impacts.
In summary, Storm Éowyn, while showcasing hurricane-force winds, is not classified as a hurricane due to its formation under different meteorological processes. This bomb cyclone, fueled by the jet stream, is anticipated to bring about significant disruption across the UK and Ireland. With its rapid intensification, Storm Éowyn is poised to be one of the most powerful storms to affect the region in decades, which warrants close monitoring and preparedness.
Original Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
