MIAMI – Hurricane Erin is churning in the Atlantic on Tuesday and it is forecast to “substantially grow in size” while moving closer to Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (mph).
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the category 3 hurricane was about 675 miles south west of Bermuda and that a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Southeast Bahamas, while a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Central Bahamas.
It said that interests in the northwestern Bahamas, Bermuda, and the United States Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast should monitor the progress of Erin, whose center is located near latitude
24.8 North, longitude 72.0 West.
“Erin is moving toward the northwest near seven mph. A turn towards the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected today, followed by a northward motion on Wednesday and then a northeastward motion on Thursday.
“On the forecast track, the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas today and
tonight, and then move over the western Atlantic between the US east coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday,” the NHC said.
It said that maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts and that fluctuations in strength are possible over the next few days.
“Erin is a large hurricane and will continue to grow in size,” the NHC warned, noting that the outer bands of Erin will produce localised areas of heavy rainfall across portions of the Turks and Caicos today and through tonight for the Bahamas.
Additional rainfall of one to three inches, with storm total amounts to eight inches, are possible, which could lead to flash and urban flooding.
Swells generated by Erin will affect The Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days.
“These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the NHC said, adding that minor coastal flooding is possible in areas of onshore winds in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas. (CMC)
