Hurricane Ophelia To Pass 120 NM Away
[Updated w/flights cancelled] Hurricane Ophelia, the fourth hurricane of the 2011 season, is expected to pass 120 nautical miles to the east of Bermuda at approximately 7pm this evening.
In their latest update this morning [Oct.1], the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, “Ophelia is moving toward the north near 17 mph…28 km/h. On this track the core of Hurricane Ophelia will pass east of Bermuda this afternoon and evening. A turn to the north-northeast should begin on Sunday with an increase in forward speed.”
“Maximum sustained winds remain near 120 mph…195 km/h…with higher gusts. Ophelia is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next 12 to 18 hours, followed by gradual weakening.”
The Bermuda Weather Service [BWS] issued a Tropical Storm Watch earlier this week, saying Hurricane Ophelia is a ‘potential threat’ to Bermuda. BWS forecasters say Ophelia’s closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs is forecast to be 120 nautical miles to the east at 7pm today [Oct.1].
“Conditions deteriorate later today as Hurricane Ophelia approaches from the south. Strong winds, showers and possible thunder will develop, with heavy surf along the South Shore. Ophelia is still expected to pass by over 100 miles to our east during this evening. Thereafter, a frontal trough is likely to bring further unsettled conditions Sunday through Monday,” said the BWS.
As of this writing, we are not aware of any flight or event cancellations, however we will update if that changes.
Update 1.33pm: In their 12 noon update, the BWS said Ophelia’s closest point of approach to Bermuda will now be 115 nm at 8pm this evening.
Update 3.31pm: The Department of Airport Operations has adivsed that American Airlines flights AA308 from Miami and AA1438 from New York have been cancelled, and Delta has cancelled Atlanta flights DL 657 and DL 656.
The Bermuda Department of Tourism has advised that Bermuda Nights will be cancelled tonight at Barr’s Bay Park.
The Department of Parks’ Lifeguard Service have erected red, high surf warning signs along the south shore including National Park- South Shore Park and closed Horsehoe Beach.
Given the current weather forecast, the Lifeguard Service expects to resume normal operating hours on Sunday, October 2, [10am-6pm] in addition to removing the high surf warning signs.
Update 7.40pm: At 7.30pm the Bermuda Weather Service cancelled the Tropical Storm Watch
Update 11.00pm: The video below shows the South Shore earlier today:
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- Philippe: ‘Potential Threat’ To Bermuda | Bernews.com | October 2, 2011
I hope you guys know what your talking about this time ! Right now the sun is shining and it’s pretty hot outside…. We’ll see!!!
*you’re
It’s so nice to see another person who knows proper grammar!!
Thank you for correcting that person – now you can tackle all the other comments on Bernews & Facebook!! Lol
i understand that Ophelia has been frightened off by the 35% duty levy.
AA has cancelled tonights flights!!
Irony in that comment PLP’s…..you’ll still get the other 75% of what she offers.
U mean 65% Terry….
Inflation…..
This is the third storm to almost hit us this summer. It seems the PLP can’t plan anything right. They are just pathetic.
OBA would have done a much better job I’m sure – even UBP!!!
Wait wait we can’t blame PLP for everything… Just most things! Just that these weather service guys can’t predict “jak” when it comes to a hurricane for Bermuda. I don’t know whose forecasting is worse – the weather service or Paula’s!!!
I would say they are in the same boat the predictors and Paula!!
Well I never thought that 15 mph winds would scare off Delta and AA…LOL Again we have been duped by our crusty er trusty fiends at BWS…Well Done Guys! I’m sure BA came in roaring thru the eye of the storm, gave an update to Miami Hurricane Center, then landed with a slight evening breeze. Aaaahhhhh
For 15mph was the maximum wind (no gusts) we got as it past east, oh and it strengthened to a CAT 4 as it did. Phhheeewwwwww
Well I never thought I would say that we are blessed to be on the west side and far enough away cause we dodged a storm worst than Fabian in 2003…
Food 4 Thought.
WHAT A BLOW!!! dumb forecasters!! Maybe they shud explain this one. (Ophelia where u at?)
Cancer, you need to shut the hell up and be thankful that we weren’t hit.
Onion yr an idiot! Right up to 7.30 when were supposed to be going thru hurricane force winds there was not even a leaf blowing. The bda weather service didn’t even update their website. That’s not good enuf! So you shut de hell up yrself idiot!
And you’re bitching about not getting even a breeze? Did you want to get hit? You’re an ass.
And so what if the weather service didn’t update their website. Look out the F*cking window.
Like I said already to you onion your an idiot! I can tell by your posts…
You probably work for the weather service anyway.. The only people the can get it so wrong and still have a job! Ya I’m sure you work there.. Idiot!
What did you do before the weather was available on the internet?
Did you competely check your common sense at the door before you entered the internet world?
And no I don’t work for the weather service.
Your user name must be what’s actually wrong with your brain.
The track stayed as forecast for days in advance. And unless I missed something between monitoring 5 different weather sites NEVER did I see anywhere that there was hurricane force winds forecast for us.
You aren’t actually dissappointed that we didn’t get creamed by a Cat4 are you ?
If you want that kind of action how about travelling over to the Northern Phillipines right about now .
This island has enough serious problems right now without getting hit by a major storm and I’ve got better things to worry about than if it blew at 15mph as opposed to 30mph , as should you.
Wow!!!!!!!!!! This is funny. Looks like Onions cause Cancer.
Damn…..I eat an onion a day. It’s an Oxi-Election.
I nee a rum….
Virgo you along with your other poster onion are actually missing the whole point. The debate is not that I wanted a hurricane to hit us – that shud be obvious. My point is that the forecasters were way off point by saying to expect high winds, rain, thunder and lightning for the next few days… None of which did occur – and then there is no statement afterwards when there was only a puff of wind. So don’t assume silly things about wishing a hurricane would hit us! That’s definitely getting it twisted!
Your concilliatory tone is noted ! The problem with weather forecasting is in a way very similar to modern medicine. Doctors ‘practice’ medicine , it’s not an exact science. Just like hurricane forecasting.
I admit that I would like to have seen a nice inch or two of rain in my neck of the woods , but still , despite the surprise in the strengthening of the storm it’s track was true to forecast.
We are , maybe falsely , becoming very trusting of the weathermen, but again , there was no threat predicted of anything more than maybe 30kt ‘breezes’.
So far this summer we’ve been very lucky . And yes , I wish I could be as wrong as they are , as often as they are and still keep my job !
P E A C E. ! !