Hurricane Imelda brought wind and rain to Bermuda on Wednesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Imelda was located at latitude 32.1°N and longitude 65.0°W which put the center about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Bermuda. Imelda was moving toward the east-northeast at 29 m.p.h. (46 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bermuda.
Hurricane Imelda was in the middle of a transition to an extratropical cyclone when it reached Bermuda on Wednesday night. The transition to an extratropical cyclone affected the structure of Hurricane Imelda. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern side of Imelda’s circulation. The bands in the southern half of Hurricane Imelda consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.
The size of the circulation around Hurricane Imelda increased during the transition to an extratropical cyclone. Winds to hurricane force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Imelda’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) from the center of Hurricane Imelda.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Imelda was 16.5. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 15.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 32.1.
Hurricane Imelda will continue to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Bermuda during the next few hours. The strong winds could cause electricity outages. Heavy rain could cause flooding.
Hurricane Imelda will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification of a hurricane during the next 24 hours. Imelda will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the southern side of an upper level trough that is east of the U.S. The upper level trough will produce strong southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Imelda’s circulation. Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear. The strong vertical wind shear will cause Hurricane Imelda to complete a transition to a strong extratropical cyclone on Thursday.
The upper level trough east of the U.S. will steer Hurricane Imelda toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Imelda will move quickly away from Bermuda on Thursday.
