Else Beekman
Hurricane Kirk, now classified as a Category 4 storm, is making headlines as it tracks across the Atlantic, raising concerns about potential impacts on Europe and possibly Spain. The storm is the eleventh named system in an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is projecting between 17 and 25 named storms this year. That is a figure well above average.
Current path and intensity
As of now, Kirk brings sustained winds of 215 km/h, creating alerts across the Atlantic. According to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), the storm is moving north-northwest at 19 km/h. It is currently located about 1,745 kilometres east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles and 2,665 kilometres from the Azores. The NHC forecasts that Kirk will likely strengthen further over the next 24 hours as it remains over warm waters. However, by the weekend, it is expected to encounter cooler waters and increased wind shear, which could weaken it.
Potential impact on Europe
Though Kirk is unlikely to make landfall in Spain, meteorologists are closely monitoring its trajectory. If the storm continues on its current path, it could reach southwestern France and northwestern Spain by Tuesday, October 8, as a weakened system. By then, it is projected to have transitioned into an extratropical storm. This means it will lose its tropical characteristics, but may still carry strong winds and heavy rain.
In Spain, the northwest region, particularly Galicia, may feel Kirk’s effects as early as Tuesday. Rain is anticipated, with heavier precipitation potentially moving in by Wednesday as a more active front sweeps across the western peninsula. The southwest winds associated with Kirk could intensify, causing coastal waves and impacting daily activities in Galicia.
Weather warnings in Spain
The Spanish meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued a yellow warning for the southwest of A Coruña province, expecting up to 40 litres of rainfall per square metre within 12 hours on Sunday. Alongside Kirk’s arrival, a tropical moisture surge is expected to impact Galicia over the weekend, likely increasing rainfall ahead of the approaching front.
Also read: AEMET expert warns of hurricane-like storms in Spain