A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane conditions are expected to reach Bermuda late tonight. Winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength within the next couple of hours, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding on Bermuda in areas of onshore winds. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
At 5 p.m. AST, the center of Hurricane Paulette was located about 155 miles (250 km) southeast of Bermuda. Paulette is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through tonight. A turn toward the north with a decrease in forward speed is forecast on Monday, followed by a faster northeastward motion Monday night and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Paulette will move near or over Bermuda Monday morning.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts – a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). Additional strengthening is forecast to occur, and Paulette is expected to be a dangerous hurricane when it approaches Bermuda late tonight and early Monday. Some further strengthening is possible when Paulette turns northeastward and moves away from Bermuda late Monday through Monday night.
Paulette will bring periods of heavy rain to Bermuda through Monday, with rainfall of 3 to 6 inches expected.
Swells generated by Paulette are affecting portions of the Leeward Islands, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the east coast of the United States. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Source: The National Hurricane Center.
