Weather scientists are linking up giant industrial fans powered by a monster race car engine as their latest tool to study hurricane destruction, a reinsurer's consulting affiliate and university researchers said.

The Florida International University's International Hurricane Research Center in Miami and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc., a Raleigh, N.C.-based affiliate of Bermuda's RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd., made the announcement Friday.

The two groups said they will jointly develop “The RenaissanceRe Wall of Wind,” an array of six industrial fans that will replicate Category 4 hurricane conditions with 130-to-140 mph winds and rain in a laboratory environment.

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