Bermuda is bracing for Hurricane Imelda, which is projected to draw near early Thursday morning. As of Wednesday at 11 a.m. EDT, Imelda was about 340 miles west-southwest of the island. The storm is moving east-northeast at 20 mph, with maximum sustained winds reaching 100 mph.
Recent satellite images show that Imelda has formed a distinct eye, surrounded by intense thunderstorms. Although conditions for further development are tricky, Imelda is gaining strength from a nearby low-pressure system.
Imelda’s movement will take it very close to Bermuda. Experts predict it may become a Category 2 hurricane shortly before landfall. As the storm interacts with the jet stream, it could transform into a dangerous extratropical storm, leading to “sting jets” of destructive winds.
Historically, Bermuda is both hurricane-prone and resilient. Just last year, Hurricane Ernesto caused power outages for over 75% of the island’s residents. Despite its strength, the damage was relatively minor. On average, a hurricane of Category 2 or greater passes within 25 miles of Bermuda every 10 to 12 years. The last strong storm was Hurricane Paulette in 2020, which brought significant winds but minimal harm.
Interestingly, Bermuda hasn’t recorded a hurricane-related death in over 20 years, highlighting the effectiveness of its preparedness in combating these natural disasters.
While Imelda grabs the headlines, the rest of the Atlantic remains calm. As of Wednesday, there were no new threats on the horizon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
For more detailed information on hurricanes, you can check out the National Hurricane Center.
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Bermuda,hurricane,Jeff Masters
