Update: Hurricane Franklin intensifies as it moves toward Bermuda.

Miami, CMC, A tropical storm watch has been issued for Bermuda as Hurricane Franklin, the first significant storm of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season, intensified into a Category four hurricane on Monday.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), in its latest bulletin at 11.00 a.m. (local time), said that the hurricane was packing sustained maximum winds of 145 miles per hour (mph) and was about 480 miles southwest of Bermuda and 440 miles north of Grand Turk island.

The Meteorological Service of Bermuda has issued a tropical storm watch for Bermuda, meaning that local low storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

According to the NHC, the center of Hurricane Franklin was located near latitude 27.8 North longitude 71.0 West, and Franklin is moving toward the north near nine mph.

“This northward to north-northeastward motion with a slightly faster forward speed is

She is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is expected to pass well west of Bermuda on Wednesday,” the NHC said.

It said based on data from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft, maximum sustained winds have increased to near 145 mph with higher gusts.

“Franklin is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is possible today, but gradual weakening is expected to begin later.

Tuesday.,” the NHC said.

It said swells, life-threatening surf, and rip currents generated by Franklin are beginning to affect Bermuda and the Southeast United States. They are expected to spread northward along the east coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada during the next few days.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Franklin has forced a cruise ship to cancel its scheduled visit to the island this week.

Carnival Magic was due to arrive at Dockyard on Tuesday for a two-night stay. But passengers were notified before the vessel left port that the destination had been switched to the Bahamas.

“Our fleet operations center is actively monitoring Hurricane Franklin, now in the Atlantic. Due to the storm’s projected path, we must modify the itinerary for your cruise. Regrettably, we will not be able to visit Bermuda,” according to an email sent to passengers.