Nicole rapidly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane late Wednesday evening with maximum sustained winds increasing to 130 mph.
Hurricane Nicole is likely to make a direct hit on Bermuda Thursday as a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger), which means impacts could be devastating.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda. Preparations to protect life and property need to be rushed to completion.
(MORE: Interactive Tracker For Nicole)
Nicole was located about 180 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, as of late Wednesday evening.
Current Storm Information
(MORE: Hurricane Central)
Feeling increasing southwesterly winds aloft, Nicole will likely bend more east of north, taking it on a direct path toward Bermuda Thursday. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is forecasting Nicole to be a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) as it passes near Bermuda.
Projected Path
Impacts From Nicole
Tropical
storm conditions (39-73 mph winds) will quickly arrive in Bermuda
overnight, with hurricane conditions (74+ mph winds) likely arriving by
Thursday morning.
While Nicole is
likely to bring strong winds to Bermuda, the severity of the winds will
depend on the exact path of the center, and thus, the eyewall, in
relation to the archipelago. Hurricane-force winds currently extend out
65 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds are up to 160
miles from the center.
Current Winds
Heavy rainfall is also forecast with 4 to 8 inches of rain expected through Thursday.
Storm
surge will produce coastal flooding in Bermuda as the center passes
nearby. Water levels could be 6 to 8 feet above normal tide levels, the
NHC says. Large, destructive waves will also pound the coastline.
Hurricanes
of this intensity passing near Bermuda are rare. There have been only
three such hurricanes of Category 3 intensity that have passed within 65
nautical miles of Hamilton, Bermuda, since the 1950s. Most recently, Gonzalo (2014) was transitioning from Cat. 3 to Cat. 2 intensity as it hit the archipelago head on.
Cat. 3 #hurricane strikes are rare for #Bermuda. Only 3 on record dating to the 1950s. Gonzalo (2014) was the last. #Nicole
Furthermore,
there have been only seven Category 2 or stronger hurricanes within 65
nautical miles of Hamilton, Bermuda, dating to 1950.
In all of the National Hurricane Center's historical records, a Category 4 hurricane has never hit Bermuda. Nicole will give that stat a run for its money.
Only four October hurricanes have tracked within 50 miles of Bermuda dating back to 1950, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, tropical scientist at Colorado State University.
Nicole's History
This is the second time since Nicole formed Oct. 4 that it has strengthened into a hurricane.
Last
Thursday, Nicole briefly became the sixth hurricane of the 2016
Atlantic hurricane season well south of Bermuda. Continued organization
during that day led to an upgrade to Category 2 status.
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