Powerful Hurricane Katia develops large eye

The system has strengthened again and could be a major hurricane tomorrow.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday September 5, 2011 – Hurricane Katia has strengthened north of the northern Leeward Islands again, and is expected to become a major hurricane later today.

The system has been fluctuating in strength since it formed last week, weakening several times before restrengthening and then losing strength again. It is now a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds now around 110 miles per hour.

No watches or warning are in place but the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said this morning that large swells generated by Katia are expected to affect most of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, east-facing beaches of the Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States over the next few days.

“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it added.

Swells that have been affecting the northern Leeward Islands should begin to subside today.

At 11 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Katia was located at 24.6 north 63.3 west or 540 miles south of Bermuda. It is moving toward the northwest near 13 miles per hour. Track Katia in the Storm Centre.

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