HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – The Bermuda government Tuesday urged citizens to remain prepared for the passage of Hurricane Franklin, which remained a significant hurricane even as it had been downgraded to a category three storm.
“As we are within 24 hours of Hurricane Franklin’s closest approach to our shores, we are reminding residents to remain aware and continue to monitor the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) storm forecasts,” Minister of National Security Michael Weekes said.
“While the current projections indicate that the impact will likely be limited, we must always prioritize the safety and well-being of our community.
“We are also reminding residents that the BWS is the official weather authority for the island. And it’s advisable to scrutinize other information sources to ensure accuracy and reliability carefully,” he added.
The BWS said the storm is expected to weaken before it makes its closest point of approach to Bermuda at 2:00 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday, when it will pass about 173 miles northwest of the island.
In its latest weather bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that ane Franklin, about 305 miles west of the island, has maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour (mph).
It said a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bermuda, meaning that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
According to the NHC, the center of Hurricane Franklin was located near latitude 31.4 North and longitude 69.9 West, and it is moving towards the northeast near 12 mph.
The NHC said this motion will continue with a faster forward speed expected during the next few days. It said on the forecast track the center of Franklin is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda on Wednesday.
The NHC said that maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph with higher.
Gusts, adding, “Franklin is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Steady weakening is forecast during the next several days”.
Meanwhile, Bermuda is monitoring another weather system after Tropical Depression Eleven was located about 825 miles east and southeast of the island.
The NHC said that while no coastal watches or warnings are in effect, the depression is moving toward the north-northwest near two mph.
“This general motion is expected to continue through tonight. A gradual turn toward the north and north-northeast at a slightly faster forward speed is expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next day or so, and the depression could become a tropical storm on Wednesday,” the NHC added.
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