Published on : Saturday, October 18, 2014
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Gonzalo rushed toward Bermuda in all its fury on Friday morning as a powerful Category 4 storm, with winds of up to 125 mph. Even if the eye of the storm doesn’t make direct landfall, the hurricane will nevertheless blast the tiny island nation.
Though the center of the storm was about 150 miles to the south-southwest of Bermuda, tropical storm force winds didn’t spare the island nation.
The center warned of “damaging winds and a life-threatening storm surge later during the day.”
“Bermuda is at risk for hurricane-force winds for at least six hours on Friday with gusts near 120 mph,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Kottlowski.
Gonzalo’s eye was expected to pass within 29 miles of the island Friday, close enough to be considered a direct hit. Those in low-lying areas were urged to move to higher ground.
Bermuda closed its schools and international airport and suspended all public transportation, including ferries. Authorities evacuated two hotels along Bermuda’s southern coast Thursday. Guests either flew out or were placed in another hotel.
The storm was moving to the north-northeast at 16 mph as of 11 a.m. Friday.
Large swells generated by Gonzalo are affecting portions of the southeast coast of the USA, according to meteorologist Steve Bowen of Aon Benfield, a global reinsurance firm. Swells will spread northward along the East Coast and will probably cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The last major hurricane to strike Bermuda was Fabian in 2003, a Category 3 storm that killed four people. A major hurricane has wind speeds of at least 111 mph.
National Hurricane Center went on to say that after Gonzalo hits Bermuda, possibilities are that the storm might graze Newfoundland in eastern Canada late Saturday.
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