Katia triggers Bermuda storm warning; Tropical Storm Maria forms
Forecasters say the core of Hurricane Katia is expected to move between Bermuda and the east coast of the US tonight and tomorrow; while Tropical Storm Maria has formed in the Atlantic.
MIAMI, United States, Wednesday September 7, 2011 – A tropical storm warning has been issued for Bermuda as Hurricane Katia continues on a path that should see it passing between the small Caribbean island and the US East Coast. Meantime, forecasters say tropical depression fourteen has become the 13th storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami says that Katia, a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 85 miles per hour, should pass by tonight and tomorrow.
Tropical storm force winds are possible in Bermuda through tomorrow and Katia is expected to produce up to two inches of rain across the island.
“Large swells generated by Katia will continue to affect most of the East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles and the east-facing beaches of the Bahamas during the next few days,” the NHC added. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
At 11 am today, Katia was located about 320 miles southwest of Bermuda and moving towards the northwest at 10 miles per hour.
The NHC said there should be little change in strength today, and Katia should gradually weaken by tomorrow.
Meantime, Tropical Storm Maria , the 13th named storm of the season, has formed more than 1,305 miles off the Lesser Antilles. It now has maximum sustained winds near 50 miles per hour.
“Some slight strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours,” the NHC said. Maria is moving toward the west near 23 miles per hour.
At 11 a.am Tropical Storm Maria was located 1,305 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and about 1,220 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands.
It currently poses no threat to land and no watches or warnings are in effect. Track the latest weather in the Storm Centre.
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