Bermuda under tropical storm warning due to Hurricane Earl

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda as Hurricane Earl, the second named hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane season, inches towards the British Overseas territory with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour.

In its latest weather bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said that the hurricane is approximately 440 miles south of Bermuda and that its centre is located near latitude 26.0 North, longitude 65.7 West.

“Earl is moving towards the north near eight mph, and a continued northward motion is expected to continue through tonight. A turn towards the north-northeast and then northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected to begin on Thursday and continue through early Saturday,” the hurricane centre said, noting that on the forecast track, the centre of Earl is expected to pass to the southeast of Bermuda on Thursday night.

It said data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 85 mph with higher gusts and “strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days” with Earl expected to become a major hurricane on Thursday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

The hurricane centre said that tropical storm conditions are expected on Bermuda beginning Thursday afternoon and that Earl is expected to produce rainfall amounts of one to two inches across Bermuda through Friday.

“Swells generated by Earl are expected to reach Bermuda by tonight and the US east coast shortly thereafter. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through the weekend,” the hurricane centre said.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.