Hurricane Bill continues to strengthen

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

************************** POWERFUL HURRICANE BILL EXPECTED TO PASS WELL NORTH OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

INTERESTS IN THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BERMUDA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF BILL.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 1100 AM AST THE EYE OF HURRICANE BILL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.7 NORTH, LONGITUDE 56.3 WEST OR ABOUT 380 MILES (610 KM) EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND ABOUT 1080 MILES (1735 KM) SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA.

BILL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH (30 KM/HR).

THIS GENERAL TRACK IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY AND THURSDAY.

A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHWEST AND NORTHWARD IS EXPECTED THEREAFTER.

DATA FROM A NOAA P-3 PLANE AND SATELLITE ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 135 MPH (215 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

BILL IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.

SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

BILL IS A LARGE HURRICANE AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 80 MILES (130 KM) FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES (280 KM) PRIMARILY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 950 MB (28.05 INCHES).

LARGE SWELLS ASSOCIATED WITH BILL WILL BE IMPACTING THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHEAST CARIBBEAN SEA DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

LARGE SWELLS ASSOCIATED WITH BILL SHOULD ALSO BEGIN TO AFFECT BERMUDA AND PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

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