UPDATE: Hurricane Bill Moving West-Northwest towards Bermuda

The latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that Hurricane Bill continues to move “west-northwestward across the tropical Atlantic with little change in strength.”

As of 5:00 a.m. AST the storm’s center was located about 810 miles, 1305 kms. east of the Leeward Islands. It is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, 28 km/hr, and “this motion is expected to continue for the next day or two with a gradual turn to the northwest on Wednesday,” said the NHC.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph, 160 km/hr. with higher gusts. Bill is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.” The bulletin indicated that the storm is expected to strengthen further over the next two days, and could become a “major hurricane,” i.e. a category 3 storm, during that period.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles, 45 kms, from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles, 240 kms. Estimated minimum central pressure is 967 mb (28.56 inches).

According to the NHC’s tracking projections, Bill is expected to remain over open water for the next three days. However, it is expected to turn to the north, which would put the island of Bermuda in its path. If the hurricane continues on its present path, or makes a less northerly turn, it could come ashore on the U.S. mainland.

Source: National Hurricane Center – www.nhc.noaa.gov