HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – The Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) has placed the island under a tropical storm watch as Hurricane Lee, with winds over 115 miles per hour (mph), will begin to affect the British Overseas Territory early on Thursday.
The storm, located about 460 miles south, southwest of Bermuda, is moving towards the northwest near six mph.
“A turn towards the north-northwest is expected later today, followed by a northward turn and an increase in speed on Thursday and Friday,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest weather bulletin.
The Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) is expected to meet later on Wednesday to assess Lee’s potential impact, and the authorities have said that the public will be notified of any decisions.
The BWS said, “Dangerous surf and rip currents will increase mainly along our south shores through Thursday. Winds, gusts, and showers rapidly increase Thursday, peaking late Thursday night as Lee passes. Conditions improve on Friday as winds and gusts rapidly decrease throughout the day.
“Lee is a massive hurricane, so while the center is expected to remain roughly 150nm to our west, we will be experiencing tropical storm-force conditions for about 24 hours, give or take a few hours …
“Lee’s closest point of approach remains late Thursday night. Once the nearest point has passed, however, we will stay under tropical storm-force conditions. Thursday is expected to have occasional showers, some heavier, with a chance of thunderstorms as Lee’s rain bands pass through the area …
“The public is urged to begin making preparations for Lee as necessary as winds increase strongly by Wednesday, which may hinder some preparations,” the BWS warned.
In its bulletin, the NHC said that on the forecast track, the center of Lee will pass west of Bermuda Thursday and Thursday night and then approach the coast of New England or
Atlantic Canada late this week.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts. Lee is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Slow weakening is forecast during the next few days. However, Lee will likely remain a large and dangerous hurricane on the weekend.”
It said swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.
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