Earl becomes a category four hurricane; Fiona forms in Atlantic
August 31st, 2010 - 4:32 am ICT by BNO NewsMIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Hurricane Earl strengthened into a category four storm as it battered the northernmost Virgin Islands on Monday, forecasters said.
All hurricane warnings were discontinued as the storm is moving away from the islands. Meanwhile, the government of the Bahamas has issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
As of 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), Earl is located about 180 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of San Juan on Puerto Rico.
Forecasters at the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Earl has maximum sustained winds near 135 miles (215 kilometers) per hour, and higher gusts, making it an extremely dangerous category four storm. Additional strengthening is forecast in the next hours.
The NHC said Earl is moving toward the west-northwest near 24 kilometers (15 miles) per hour, with a turn toward the northwest expected on Tuesday. “The center of earl will move away from the Virgin Islands tonight and pass east of the Turks and Caicos islands on Tuesday night and Wednesday.”
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 110 kilometers (70 miles) from the center of Earl, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 325 kilometers (200 miles).
As of 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques. Additionally, a tropical storm watch is in effect for southeastern Bahamas.
Starting late Thursday or early Friday morning, Early may begin to affect the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina to the north. By that time, Earl is forecast to be a category three hurricane.
But the NHC said it is not yet known how badly the U.S. East Coast may be hit, if it all. “This is a good time to remind everyone that NHC average track forecast errors are 200 to 300 miles (321 to 482 kilometers) at days 4 and 5. Given this uncertainty, it is too soon to determine what - if any - parts of the U.S. East Coast might see direct impacts from Earl later this week,” the Miami-based center said.
Also on Monday afternoon, Tropical Storm Fiona formed east of the Leeward Islands, after days of slow development.
As of 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), the center of Tropical Storm Fiona was located about 1435 kilometers (890 miles) east of the Leeward Islands. “Interest in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Fiona,” said forecaster Berg at the Miami-based center. “A tropical storm watch may be required for a portion of this area later this evening or tonight.”
Meanwhile, Hurricane Danielle weakened to a tropical storm over the open Atlantic Ocean. The storm is located 685 kilometers (425 miles) south-southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland. It has maximun sustained winds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour.
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- Hurricane Earl moving across the northern Leeward Islands - Aug 30, 2010
- Earl becomes a category four hurricane, threatens the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast - Sep 02, 2010
- Earl weakens to a category three hurricane, new U.S. watches issued - Sep 01, 2010
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- Tropical storm Gaston forms in the Atlantic, no threat to land - Sep 02, 2010
- Tropical Storm Igor forms in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean - NHC - Sep 08, 2010
- Tropical Storm, Fiona, Not Likely To Take On The Strength Of A Hurricane - Sep 02, 2010
- Tropical depression forms in the far eastern Atlantic, may threaten the Caribbean - Aug 29, 2011
- Igor slightly weakens as it aims directly for Bermuda - Sep 14, 2010
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