RMS Reports on Hurricane Bill

The latest bulletin from Risk Management Solutions describes Hurricane Bill making landfall in southeast Newfoundland as a weak category 1 hurricane. As of a few hours ago the storm was approximately 90 miles (145 kms) north-northwest of Cape Race Newfoundland with maximum sustained winds of around 75 mph (120 km/hr).

RMS noted that there is “fairly good agreement with the forecast models that Bill will continue to track towards the northeast across the North Atlantic over the next few days, and all the intensity forecasts suggest it will steadily weaken to tropical storm status as it interacts with Newfoundland and moves over cooler waters.”

The remnants of Bill are forecast to impact the northwest coast of Ireland and the west coast of Scotland on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.

Prior to tracking over Newfoundland, Bill made its closest approach to the U.S. east coast on Sunday, 23 August, tracking just 150 miles (240 kms) east of New England coastline. With the strongest winds remaining offshore, there has been no major damage reported.

Bermuda also escaped with no major damage after being impacted by tropical storm force winds on Saturday, 22 August as Bill passed between Bermuda and the U.S. east coast as a category 2 strength hurricane.

Hurricane Bill was the first hurricane and major hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane season and formed from a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa on August 15. As Bill moves away from Newfoundland, RMS will continue to monitor any incoming damage reports and will update this report should any significant information come to light.

Source: Risk Management Solutions – www.rms.com