Hurricane Gonzalo moved onto Bermuda on Friday, with forecasters warning of significant damage ahead and life-threatening storm surge. The powerful Category 3 storm was lashing the British territory with fierce wind and rough surf that could raise coastal seas as much as 10 feet. The National Hurricane Center said the storm, which was packing sustained winds at 115 mph, was expected to gain speed through Saturday. It was barreling north-northeast at 16 mph and was expected to hammer Bermuda for hours during the night.
A 'dangerous and life-threatening storm surge' will be accompanied by large and destructive waves, with swells generated by Gonzalo hitting portions of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and the U.S. east coast and expected to cause life-threatening rip-current conditions, the National Weather Service added.
'We can expect heavy damage out of swell and surge,' said Rob Howlett, a meteorologist with the Bermuda Weather Service, told bberitaa.blogspot.com. He said Gonzalo's eye is expected to pass within 29 miles of the island, close enough to be considered a direct hit.
Gonzalo reached Category 4 status with 145 mph sustained winds, making it the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Basin since Hurricane Igor in September 2010, according to The Weather Channel, which warned that significant structural damage is expected for Bermuda. 'Power will likely be out to all of the island for days and possibly weeks in some areas,' it said.
Separately, Hawaii's governor declared a state of emergency in advance of Tropical Storm Ana, which is expected to hit the Big Island on Friday night into Saturday morning and could become a hurricane on Friday.
IN-DEPTH SOCIAL - Cassandra Vinograd and Hallie Jackson
First published October 17 2014, 12:43 AM
Posted by Unknown on Friday, October 17, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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