Fujiwhara effect: Yes, 'Mina' and 'Lando' have an affair

Do typhoon “Mina" and storm “Lando" have an affair? It appears they do. A weather specialist on Sunday said “Lando" would return to the Philippine Area of Responsibility because he was being "attracted" by the strength of “Mina." The attraction of “Lando" toward “Mina" is called the “Fujiwhara effect," according to Prisco Nilo, head of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Nilo, during Sunday’s news briefing, explained how “Mina," the stronger weather disturbance, was pulling “Lando" back to the Philippines – a movement somewhat similar to a pair dancing waltz. Ang nangyayari, kapag ‘yong isang bagyo ay kumilos halimbawa ng pa-hilaga si “Mina," si “Lando" naman, kikilos ng pa-timog. Ngayon pag si “Lando" ay kikilos ng pa-hilaga, si “Mina" ay kikilos ng pa-timog (If for example “Mina" moves to the north, “Lando" will move to the south. If “Lando" moves to the north, “Mina" will move to the south)." Si “Mina," kasi ang dominant dito… eto ‘yong stronger na typhoon. Gano’n palagi ‘yan sa Fujiwhara effect, kapag lumiko ‘yong dominant na typhoon, susunod ‘yong isa. Upon crossing Northern Luzon, “Mina" is expected to do a u-turn. Kaya susunod si “Lando". Tuloy-tuloy silang magsusunuran (“Mina" is more dominant, she is the stronger typhoon. It’s always like that in the Fujiwhara effect. If the dominant typhoon turns, the other will move too. Upon crossing Northern Luzon, “Mina" is expected to do a u-turn, and “Lando" will also move)." Nilo said the Philippines had the same Fujiwhara effect on storms ten years ago. An article published on USA Today explains the Fujiwhara effect. “The Fujiwhara effect describes the rotation of two storms around each other. It's most common with tropical cyclones such as typhoons or hurricanes, but also occurs in other cases," the article said. According to the article, the “effect is thought to occur when storms get about 900 miles apart." “When Tropical Storm Iris was approaching the Windward Islands on Aug. 23, 1995 and Hurricane Humberto was close behind, they drew close enough together to begin a Fujiwhara dance," it said. "As Humberto chased down Iris, Humberto began to lift northward over Iris while Iris slowed down and turned a bit to the south. Iris became a hurricane just as this "dance" began but both storms were weakened by their passion for each other," it added. - GMANews.TV