Tropical storm warning issued for Bermuda

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

************************** OPHELIA BECOMES THE FOURTH HURRICANE OF THE SEASON.

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR:

- BERMUDA

AT 500 PM AST, 2100 UTC, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.4 NORTH, LONGITUDE 62.3 WEST.

OPHELIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH, 15 KM/H.

A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED SHOULD BEGIN TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.

SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT OPHELIA HAS STRENGTHENED.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH, 120 KM/H, WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

OPHELIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.

SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES, 35 KM, FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES, 280 KM MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 987 MB, 29.15 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN BERMUDA STARTING LATE SATURDAY.

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