My grandson is obsessed with hurricanes. We followed the progress of Hurricane Erin together, relieved when it turned away from the East Coast of the U.S. at the last moment. These massive cyclones are energy beasts, converting warm ocean water into rain, wind and waves. Hurricanes are nature’s automatic pressure relief valves, transporting excess heat and moisture away from the tropics, toward the poles.
By one estimate, over 11 days Hurricane Erin produced enough raw wind energy to power Minneapolis for 189 years. Looking at the entirety of latent heat release, this massive heat engine produced enough energy to run Minneapolis homes/businesses for 75,000 years. If only we could harness that energy.
I’m thoroughly enjoying late September: 60s Sunday with a stiff wind (normal high at MSP is 80 degrees). A mostly dry week is shaping up with a slow warming trend. Highs may top 80 by late week and next weekend, but no 90s are in sight.
And no, Minnesota’s lakes are much too small (and chilly) to spawn hurricanes.
