Introduction to Hurricane Erin’s Impact on South Florida
Hurricane Erin is over 500 miles away from South Florida as of Wednesday afternoon, but the extreme size of the storm is still impacting the wind direction locally, and spreading wildfire smoke across the area.
But how is this possible?
Understanding How Wind Moves Around a Hurricane
Wind naturally flows counterclockwise around a low-pressure system. With that in mind, South Florida has been on the west side of the storm for the last few days. That means the wind has been coming from the northeast and onto the shore. So, thanks to that onshore wind, the smoke was being pushed further into the Everglades and away from where people live.
Current Wind Movement and Its Effects
On Wednesday, South Florida finds itself in the far southwest quadrant of the storm. That means our area will have northwest winds (as in, winds that come from the northwest) because of how they naturally wrap around a storm like Erin. That westerly wind component is currently pushing smoke east and into more populated areas, across a large swath of South Florida, at a sustained speed of approximately 10 to 15 mph. This is all due to the outer flow of Erin.
Duration of Erin’s Influence on Local Winds
Our winds will be affected until the massive system moves even farther away. Wednesday night, the winds will weaken, and this is when our air quality alerts go into effect for the stagnant nature of the breeze. Once the breeze picks back up, depending on where it’s coming from, the smoke will all move downstream.
Forecast for Smoke Movement
The forecast for Thursday has the wind shifting to the southwest, which means the smoke will move to the north and east. South Florida could still see smoke until rain washes it out of the atmosphere (and assists in the firefight). That is also forecast for Thursday.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hurricane Erin’s large size and positioning have significantly influenced the wind direction in South Florida, leading to the spread of wildfire smoke into populated areas. Understanding how winds move around a hurricane and anticipating changes in wind direction are crucial for predicting the movement of smoke and planning accordingly.
FAQs
- Q: How does the wind direction around a hurricane affect the movement of wildfire smoke?
- A: The counterclockwise flow of wind around a low-pressure system like a hurricane determines the direction in which the smoke will move. Depending on the hurricane’s position relative to the area, the wind can either push smoke away from populated areas or into them.
- Q: How long will the winds in South Florida be affected by Hurricane Erin?
- A: The winds will be affected until Hurricane Erin moves farther away from the area. This influence is expected to lessen as the storm continues on its path.
- Q: What can be expected in terms of smoke movement in the coming days?
- A: As the wind shifts, the direction in which the smoke moves will also change. Eventually, rain forecasted for the area is expected to help clear the smoke from the atmosphere.
