Hurricane Humberto is the third hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and is continuing to grow in strength as it tracks toward the southeast US coast. According to its latest update, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) recorded Humberto as being around 710 miles west of Bermuda. The weather system is becoming better organised, and large swells are impacting much if the southeastern US coastline according to the hurricane experts.
As of the update at 11am EDT (4pm BST) Humberto had maximum sustained wind speeds of 85mph, making it a category one hurricane on the Saffir Simpson scale.
However, soon Humberto could strengthen to category three status, which has winds of at least 111mph.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: “Interests in Bermuda should prepare for a close encounter with a hurricane that could evolve into a Category 3 before approaching nearby waters.
“Even if Humberto only delivers a glancing blow to the islands, an uptick in showers, thunderstorms and winds are likely from Wednesday into Thursday.”
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Humberto could bring periods of heavy rain to Bermuda which may start late on Wednesday or Thursday.
The storm’s outer rain bands could bring further rainfall to the northeast Bahamas, which were devastated by Hurricane Dorian earlier this month.
Dorian battered the Bahamas, making landfall as a severe category five hurricane, killing at least 50 people.
Wind speeds reached a staggering 185mph as it made landfall, the highest winds ever recorded for a hurricane at landfall when it struck the Abaco Islands.
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Around 1,300 residents remain missing, and at least 15,000 are displaced and in need of food, shelter and medical assistance.
Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis has said the official death toll from Dorian stands at 50 but that hundreds of people are missing and it is expected to rise.
There are fears that as Hurricane Humberto approaches, the heavy winds, rain and potential flooding could hamper rescue efforts for those already suffering after Hurricane Dorian.
Carl Smith, from the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told reporters the hurricane could impact ongoing searches for missing people, and efforts to get much-needed supplies to Grand Bahama and Great Abaco.
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Both islands were the worst hit, but Mr Smith said although the weather would slow down logistics, NEMA had contingency plans in place.
He said: ”I hope it does not disrupt it.
“We have taken precautionary measures to address the potential impact that we may encounter.
“Fuel and water remain the biggest needs in Abaco.”