Danielle expected to weaken (5 p.m. update)

NEWS RELEASE

US NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

****************************** DANIELLE MOVING NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD, EXPECTED TO PASS WELL EAST OF BERMUDA TONIGHT

AT 500 PM AST, 2100 UTC, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DANIELLE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 30.3 NORTH, LONGITUDE 59.7 WEST.

DANIELLE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 13 MPH, 20 KM/HR.

THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON SUNDAY, FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST ON MONDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 105 MPH, 165 KM/HR, WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

DANIELLE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.

LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS, AND GRADUAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE ON SUNDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES, 95 KM, FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES, 295 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 970 MB, 28.64 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND: SURF, LARGE WAVES AND DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT BERMUDA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

SWELLS FROM DANIELLE WILL BEGIN TO ARRIVE ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES LATER TODAY.

THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

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