Forecasters predict that Hurricane Earl, which is churning towards Bermuda, could develop and bring severe surf and rip current conditions to the eastern US shoreline later this week.
Earl, the second Atlantic hurricane of the 2022 season, with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour on Wednesday night, making it a category 2 storm.
It was forecast to grow further and become a “major hurricane,” a category 3 storm with sustained winds of 111-129mph that may wreak catastrophic damage.
“Although Earl’s centre is forecast to pass southeast of Bermuda, tropical-storm-force winds are expected on the island this afternoon through early Friday morning,” the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Bermuda, a self-governing British overseas territory in the western North Atlantic Ocean, has been given a hurricane watch.
Michael Weeks, the island’s national security minister, told reporters that public services and government offices will remain open but cautioned citizens to brace themselves for tropical storm conditions.
“Bermuda will certainly feel the effects from Earl, so we must guard against complacency,” he stated.
Hurricane Danielle was gradually fading over open waters 605 miles north-northwest of the Azores. The greatest sustained wind speed was 75 mph.
