Monday September 3rd 2012 17:30 local ADT
Once again I am writing to talk about a pending hurricane.
Its amazing how this little 22sq mile island can attract Atlantic hurricanes so frequently recently, sure we have had storms passing this way and that way but never have we had so many very close or even direct hits like we have had in the past 10 years or so. Seems like I am writing about a hit or near hit every year.
All the storms last year came this way one formed right over us no major hit or major close calls.. In 2010 we had Hurricane Igor passing very close and and giving us minimal hurricane force winds for almost 12 hours.
Now in 2012 we have Leslie presently a very strong tropical storm but she is expected to intensify into at least a C1 hurricane passing Bermuda presently forecast to be Saturday late morning. This track is still very much subject to change as we are still 4 to 5 days off. If it does go east then it would be better as usual the heavier winds would be on the storms east side and it would appear that she will be moving at a good speed so should be out of here by late Saturday into Sunday. The present satellite picture shows a lot of weather with this storm and as predicted she is very large in size. There is a buoy 41049 to the south of Bermuda which should get this storm long before us so
it will be interesting to see the conditions there as of writing this the pressure was dropping and wind was gusting to 21 kts. I try to emphasize the tornado factor with a storm this size it appears to be a lot of thunder and heavy rain and as you know with a tornado you cannot prepare or prevent this is my biggest fear in these storms. Sporadic tornadoes were the major factor in our direct hit C3 Hurricane Fabian September 5th 2003.
If you were here in
Bermuda today you would not suspect any inclement weather was on the horizon its been a beautiful day here actually the humidity is lower then normal for this time so its dry and clear with a temperature in the mid 80s. Certainly not the weather feeling for a pending hurricane but still quite a distance to our south so plenty of time for a weather change.
Thats about it for now there is no widespread rush for supplies or panic and no warnings posted just the high surf beach warning and the fact that Leslie is a potential threat. Its a public holiday here today for Labor Day. So its still very much a wait and see
situation as Leslie is going to stall to our south middle week before being pulled northward again hopefully north eastward.
Have a nice day everyone best wishes from Bermuda
Keith
