Hurricane Danielle Reaches Category Two Strength

Yesterday Danielle was still classified by the National Hurricane Center in Miami as tropical storm. But the NHC’s latest bulletin, issued at 5:00 a.m. AST, confirms that it has now strengthened into a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

The hurricane’s is still in the middle of the Atlantic with the center around 1110 miles, 1790 kms east of the Lesser Antilles. The NHC said “Danielle is moving toward the west near 20 mph, 32 km/hr. A turn toward the west-northwest and then northwest is expected by early Wednesday.

“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph, 160 km/hr, with higher gusts.” However the NHC also warned that “additional strengthening is forecast, and Danielle could become a major hurricane by early Wednesday.”

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles, 45 kms from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles, 185 kms.

According to the NHC’s 5-day track forecast Danielle is currently on course to pass close to Bermuda, and, if the storm continues on that course, it could come ashore over the northeastern coast of the U.S. and Canada’s Maritime Provinces

The NHC is also following the progress of a “broad area of low pressure,” currently situated about 300 miles “south-southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.” The chances are described as “conducive for development” of a tropical depression, which could produce a new tropical storm and eventually a second hurricane.

Source: National Hurricane Center