The Fujiwhara Effect happens when two nearby tropical cyclones begin to interact with each other. Instead of moving independently, their circulations cause them to start orbiting around a common center, almost like a dance in the atmosphere. This interaction can pull storms closer together, fling them apart, or even cause them to merge into one larger and often more dangerous system.

Named after Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara, who first described the phenomenon in 1921, the effect usually occurs when two storms form within about 600-800 miles of each other. The stronger storm often dominates, tugging the weaker one into its circulation, but in rare cases, two storms of similar strength can combine, creating a single, more powerful storm.

This atmospheric "dance" is not only fascinating but also has major implications for forecasting. It can alter a storm’s track unpredictably, making it harder to warn communities in its path. While the Fujiwhara Effect is rare, it reminds us how complex and interconnected the atmosphere can be, where even massive storms can’t resist each other’s pull.

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Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.