2023-11-01 15:00:38
Passengers flying between the United States and Europe this week will have never traveled faster! Indeed, transatlantic flights benefit from a weather phenomenon: storm Ciáran. The phenomenon fuels the powerful jet stream which is approaching France at the time of writing these lines. Planes connecting the two continents take advantage of these winds and see their speed explode. Specialized aviation sites have been reporting this phenomenon for 24 hours.
For example, a Lufthansa flight crossing the Atlantic was recorded at 765 mph, or just over 1,231 km/h, approaching Mach 1, the speed of sound.
Most of these transatlantic flights arrive at their destination up to an hour earlier than expected, due to these winds “boosted” by the jet stream, which offers a bonus of more than 320 km/h along this busy corridor by airlines.
A phenomenon that fascinates simple observers and scientific journalists, like Mac Lesggy. “Impressive: pushed by the jet stream which also brings us the Ciarán storm, this British Airways plane is flying at 1,200 km/h instead of the 900 km/h planned,” noted the host of the channel’s science shows. M 6.
“Storm Ciarán is forming over the Atlantic in an area where the jet stream exceeds 300 km/h! As a result, the planes traveling in this corridor sometimes reach speeds of 1,200 km/h! », Confirms the Météo Express website.
???? Storm Ciarán is forming over the Atlantic in an area where the jet stream exceeds 300 km/h! As a result, the planes traveling in this corridor sometimes reach speeds of 1,200 km/h! ???? (© weathermodels) pic.twitter.com/dGDlRy0CE1
— Météo Express (@MeteoExpress) October 31, 2023
The jet stream, a player in European weather
The jet stream has always had a big influence on the weather. It stretches over thousands of kilometers and is capable of modulating the strength of winds and storms, “this high altitude air current is at the heart of the disturbances that we regularly experience”, ensures the Weather Channel.
This current of violent winds actually acts as a regulator, it separates cold air masses from warm air masses and directly influences the formation, trajectory and intensity of depressions which can hit our territory.
Its strength and position can modulate the severity of weather phenomena, whether storms, heatwaves or rainy episodes. In Ciarán’s case, the two feed on each other, one pushing the other towards Europe, and the other increasing the speed of the jet stream.
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