Government Advisory On Hurricane Katia
The Government issued an advisory this afternoon [Sept.6] following the Bermuda Weather Service [BWS] issuing a Tropical Storm Watch.
The St. George’s ferry has been suspended until further notice, and lifeguards at Horseshoe Bay erected the red flag signaling that no one is to enter the water due to “extremely dangerous” swells and rip currents.
The Ministry of Public Works said they “will continue to monitor the causeway. In the event sustained wind speeds exceed 50 knots, the Ministry will consider closure of the causeway in the interest of public safety. The public will be kept abreast throughout.”
At 12pm today, the BWS said Katia’s closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs is forecast to be 256 nm to the west south-west at 4pm tomorrow [Sept. 7].
“Hurricane Katia, varying from a category 3 to category 4 cyclone, is a potential threat to Bermuda. Strong winds with occasional gale force gusts are expected through Thursday. A few showers and a chance of thunder will be around today through Wednesday morning, then showers and the chance of thunder increases Wednesday afternoon through Thursday.” continued the BWS.
The full statement from Government follows below:
The Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) advised that as of the 11:30 am forecast Bermuda is now under Tropical Storm Watch.
After consultation with the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), the BWS has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Bermuda and the surrounding Marine Area due to the NHC forecast for Hurricane Katia.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots will possibly affect Bermuda (including the marine area extending out 25 nautical miles), within 48 hours, associated with a tropical cyclone or subtropical cyclone.
The track of Katia puts Bermuda in a “Potential Threat Criteria”, defined as “the tropical cyclone center is expected to pass within 400 nautical miles of Bermuda within the next 72 hours”.
Southeast swells are currently impacting the South Shore beaches, and there is still some potential that we will see tropical Storm force winds of at least 34 knots. This is likely for the western marine area, as Katia begins to re-curve. However, the probability for 50 knot winds is less than 1% chance, as of the last advisory.
The Ministry of Public Works will continue to monitor the causeway. In the event sustained wind speeds exceed 50 knots, the Ministry will consider closure of the causeway in the interest of public safety. The public will be kept abreast throughout.
Due to the large swells impacting South Shore beaches, as of 12 p.m. today lifeguards at Horseshoe Bay erected the red flag signaling that no one is to enter the water.
The swells and rip currents present on the beach are now extremely dangerous. Residents and guests of the island are encouraged to stay out and well away from the water along the south shore.
The Department of Marine and Ports has also advised that the St. George’s ferry has been suspended until further notice due to the inclement weather we are currently experiencing.
As a reminder BWS is the official source of watches, warnings and forecasts for Bermuda and the NHC have jurisdiction for forecasting the official track of tropical systems within the North Atlantic & Caribbean region.
Update Sept.7, 6:30am: Katia has been downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane
I have a flight tomorrow (Wednesday) between Miami and Bermuda. Have you heard anything about flight cancellations from the airlines/airport?
Don’t know whether you are coming or going. If the plane does not come here tonight it cannot go there tomorrow morning. Check AA.
Well…it left MIA. Lets hope it does not go MIA. Looks like it is about on the rhumbline. Not rum time. Sorry Terry. It may be rum time by the time it gets here tonight.
lol
Call your carrier Margaret. Sounds like your in Miami or lost in the Triangle………
Are the buses ever cancelled because of the bad weather? I do not want to ride my bike in this weather but also dont wanna catch the bus because they can be a bit strike happy or may stop because of bad weather.
The buses stop for any reason they can find. Also, Margaret AA cancels if they do not have enough toilet paper but if I was you, I would check the airport website or AA website directly.
It depends how many of them call in “sick” today.
In the old days before we started adopting American terminology it was ‘under-tow’ not rip currents. And a very scary phenomenom it is .. especially when you can feel it when you’re only in 18 inch deep water ! Stay out everyone until it’s safe !
At any rate the South Shore is starting to growl and rumble like distant thunder , something that the old timers used as a harbinger to serious weather a coming .
Good one Sharkey……..you must be on the “OIL”…………………………….
I can hear Hungry Bay roaring very loudly which is a sure sign that Katia is getting closer.
I am from NJ and we call it undertow as well.
I’d like to thank the astute planning of the PLP for orchestrating the path of hurricane Katia. The fact that Katia is parading around us in a circular motion is a tribute to the vision and project management of the Government we have elected.
Furthermore, if Katia actually surprises everyone and slams us directly, the blame will quite rightly be put square on the UBP.
Where in the World is the Colonel? Shouldn’t the causeway be closed now? Who is doing his job?
Let’s hope causeway… that Bermuda has seen the last of Col Burch…this man should never ever have a political career…he like Lavern are full of hate, these two are what is causing the devide amongst we Bermudians, it is time for these two seniors to RETIRE….
i want this weather to hit over 50 knots yo
speaking of jobs…you all should get one.
you don’t ever say anything intelligent.
Have to sit on a computer to hear yourselves talk.
lololololol
tough internet talk
you keep your chin up
Bwahaaaaaaaaa You must be on your pee brake…………………………..