Hurricane Nicole forms off Bermuda in the Atlantic and could be absorbed by Matthew as they cross paths

  • Tropical storm Nicole has intensified into a category two hurricane off Bermuda
  • Nicole's maximum sustained winds are at 105mph
  • It could cross paths with Matthew, where it would either be absorbed or the two would 'dance' around each other 
  • Such a phenomenon is called the Fujiwara effect 
  • Matthew has already claimed at least 340 lives in the Caribbean

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 13:06 EST, 6 October 2016 | Updated: 00:22 EST, 7 October 2016

Hurricane Matthew's path of destruction hasn't even finished, but another hurricane has formed off the coast of Bermuda.

As Matthew barrels up the US East Coast, Nicole has now intensified from a tropical storm into a hurricane off Bermuda in the Atlantic, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Nicole is currently located about 345 miles south of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, making it a Category 2 hurricane.

Matthew by comparison was upgraded earlier on Thursday to a Category 4 as it approached the US mainland.

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Not far behind: While Matthew barrels its way up towards the East Coast, Tropical Storm Nicole has intensified into a hurricane and is hot on its heels 

Not far behind: While Matthew barrels its way up towards the East Coast, Tropical Storm Nicole has intensified into a hurricane and is hot on its heels 

Menacing: Nicole is currently located about 345 miles south of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 105miles per hour

Menacing: Nicole is currently located about 345 miles south of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 105miles per hour

The hurricane is expected to turn toward the north-northwest later Thursday, and could strengthen further over the next day or so, the NHC added. 

But as it stands, Nicole is no threat to the US mainland.

Matthew strengthened from a Category Three to a Four this moring as it bears down on the East Coast

Matthew strengthened from a Category Three to a Four this moring as it bears down on the East Coast

Nicole is expected to remain south of Bermuda, with the island experiencing rough surf conditions over the next few days. 

Matthew is expected to eventually head back into the Atlantic after making its way up past Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

As a result, it could cross Nicole's path, which would see both storms interacting with one another, according to the Palm Beach Post. 

Such an interaction is called the Fujiwara effect, named after Japanese meteorologist Sakarei Fujiwara, where two tropical cyclones less than 900 miles apart orbit each other, closing the distance between the circulations of their low-pressure areas.

Depending on the size of the two, one could simply be absorbed by the other. But if they are of a similar size, they two would 'dance' around each other. 

One recent example was when Hurricane Wilma absorbed Tropical Storm Alpha shortly after crossing south Florida and the Florida Keys.  

Two days after the storm rampaged across Haiti's remote southwestern peninsula, authorities and aid workers still lack a clear picture of what they fear is their biggest disaster in years

Two days after the storm rampaged across Haiti's remote southwestern peninsula, authorities and aid workers still lack a clear picture of what they fear is their biggest disaster in years

The head of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Authority, Capt. Stephen Russell, said there were many downed trees and power lines, but no reports of casualties as Matthew blew through Nassau on the island

The head of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Authority, Capt. Stephen Russell, said there were many downed trees and power lines, but no reports of casualties as Matthew blew through Nassau on the island

HURRICANE MATTHEW'S PREDICTED PATH OF DESTRUCTION THROUGH THE EAST COAST

Thursday:  6pm

Category Four Matthew will move northwest from the Bahamas towards south Florida and Miami which is expected to experience wind speeds of up to 75mph.

Thursday: Midnight

Wind speeds in Miami will drop as low as 50mph, while in Melbourne, Florida, which is around 180 miles north, speeds will pick up to more than 75mph.

Friday: 8am

Matthew will make a direct hit on Melbourne at 8am, with wind speeds of more than 130mph but will weaken as it moved north along Florida's East Coast.

Friday: 8pm 

By the time it hits Jacksonville, Florida at 8pm, Friday, the hurricane will have dropped down to a Category Three with wind speeds of between 110mph and 130mph. 

Wind speeds will begin to drop as the storm moved north into Georgia.

Saturday: 8am 

Matthew will hit Savannah Georgia but wind speeds will have dropped to less than 110mph making it a Class Two.

The hurricane will sustain wind speeds of between 96-110 mph as it moved northeast along the coastal regions of South Carolina

Saturday: 8pm

Matthew is expected to hit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with maximum wind speeds of 110mph.

The storm will then move northeast, brushing the south coast of North Carolina overnight, and moving out to sea into the Atlantic. 

Sunday:  8am

The hurricane will be over the Atlantic, south east from the North Carolina coast which may still experience some high winds. The storm will continue to move in a southeasterly direction over the ocean into Tuesday.

 

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