Fiona Drawing Closer, Gaston Downgraded
While Bermuda is presently under a Tropical Storm warning due to Fiona which is expected to pass within 10 miles of us this weekend, the good news is Tropical Storm Gaston which was building behind Fiona in the Atlantic Ocean has been downgraded, with forecasters saying this morning [Sept 3] it has weakened, saying dry air hindered its development hence it weakened to a tropical depression and later into a remnant low.
The Government yesterday issued a warning and advice in reference to Fiona, and the Bermuda Weather Service’s latest update at 5:30am this morning says:
The Tropical Storm Warning remains in force for Tropical Storm Fiona, which remains a threat to Bermuda. TS Fiona is expected to move within 10 nautical miles of Bermuda in the early hours of Saturday morning, before moving to our north later on. Settled at first, but showers develop later with rain or thunder through the night. Rain easing Saturday as TS Fiona clears northward, but the unsettled trend continues into next week.
Fiona is expected to pass near Bermuda early on Saturday morning, with tropical-storm-force winds expected to reach the island by tomorrow evening. The US National Hurricane Centre says that as of 5am today, Fiona is about 310 miles [500 km] south south-west of Bermuda, carrying maximum sustained winds of 80 mph [85 km] and moving north at 13 mph [20 km]
The chart below, courtesy of the US National Hurricane Centre, shows Fiona passing by Bermuda at about 2am on Saturday [Sept 4] morning.
The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1 and will end on November 30. Hurricane Alex was the first hurricane of the season, followed by Hurricane Danielle and Hurricane Earl. In addition, there have been a number of tropical depressions and storms.
Earl spared Bermuda but wrought significant damage to our island neighbours in the South, causing an estimated $150 million worth of damage in the Caribbean. The hurricane is presently in the path of the US East Cost, prompting evacuation orders, US President Barack Obama to sign a disaster declaration for North Carolina three days ago and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to declare a state of emergency.
