An Atlantic hurricane is predicted to pass over Greater Manchester this weekend bringing “appreciatively” warmer air than normal.
Hurricane Gert, the second hurricane of the season in the Atlantic Ocean, is currently moving eastward from the Caribbean Ocean, making tracks for the British Isles.
The hurricane has already been reduced to a tropical storm as it loses energy while travelling over the cold waters of the Atlantic.
Grahame Madge, a spokesman from the Met Office, told MM: “By the time the storm gets to our waters it will be wrapped up in another weather system and any sign of Hurricane Gert will be the warmth of the air within the remaining air mass.”
This warmer air from the storm is what will be noticed by the public over the weekend and into next week – weather that sounds more welcoming than high winds and heavy rain.
Mr Madge added: “Hurricane Gert may pep up rainfall amounts a bit and additionally it could move the jet stream further north.”
The jet stream is a high altitude and fast moving ribbon of air which acts like a barrier, keeping cold air to the north and warm air to the south.
When asked if hurricanes are typical on the British coast, Mr Madge replied: “Yes they are, but we are not going to see hurricanes in full force, but rather the influence of hurricanes.
“Modified warmer air will be Gert’s legacy to British weather. We are not expecting increased wind speed, however the action of Hurricane Gert will have drawn up quite a lot of warm and humid air from further south in the Atlantic.
“This is what will influence the weather over the next three or four days.”
Gert could help temperatures in Manchester reach above average next week, with Tuesday predictions reaching 24c, compared to 18-19c.
