BWS Issues New Gale Warning For Island
The island can expect to be buffeted by more strong winds over the next 24 hours with the Bermuda Weather Service [BWS] today [Feb. 21] issuing a Gale Warning valid for late tonight through to tomorrow evening.
As a broad upper level trough sweeps towards the Bermuda area tomorrow, gales packing powerful winds will continue ahead of an oncoming cold front.
“The models have winds increasing 30-40 knots in the afternoon with gusts to 55 knots in and around showers,” said BWS forecaster Michelle Pitcher. ”The models are in fairly good alignment on the timing of the frontal passage (8pm local time, Tuesday) with almost a quarter of an inch of precipitation.
“The thunder indices remain very weak, but I have continued a slight chance of thunder in the marine area … Models have the winds rapidly easing to moderate to strong behind the front with just a few showers lingering behind the front. On Wednesday, as conditions begin to settle as high pressure increases from the West, I have continued the theme of a few showers in the day and one or two overnight. There are indications in the models of significant cloud cover in the area and that, coupled with cold advection over the warmer ocean, will easily spawn patchy light showers.
“Once the gale warning ends Tuesday evening, a small craft warning will continue through Wednesday, as the seas will not be below nine feet.”
On Sunday BWS recorded a peak wind gust of 76 knots,which translates to around 87.5 miles per hour or 140km per hour. Category 1 hurricane winds range from 74-95 mph.
Yesterday BWS forecaster Jeff Torgerson described the winds as “frequent gusts to storm force, and at Commissioner’s Point, Dockyard occasional gusts to hurricane force.”
The BWS said “rain was mixed with small hail less than 2.0mm diameter” and they had one report of “pea-size hail”. They also stated that cold advection showers brought cooling temperatures all day and most notably a brief drop to below 50F/10C.
In the North Shore Devonshire area waves were so choppy sprays of water could be seen passing right over the road to the other side of the street. Despite storm force winds yesterday, flights to the island were not affected with the airport operating as normal.
