Franklin, the first major hurricane of Atlantic season, set to impact Bermuda
Franklin, once a major hurricane, is forecast to make a pass to the northwest of Bermuda.
The powerful hurricane could impact portions of Bermuda this week, while still sending some impacts to the East Coast.
On Monday morning, Franklin became the first major hurricane in the Atlantic basin this season. AccuWeather hurricane experts warn that the powerful cyclone will pass within a couple of hundred miles of Bermuda on Wednesday, while still sending dangerous impacts to the East Coast much of the week.
The storm became just the second hurricane of the Atlantic season on Saturday morning, following Don which occurred during the month of July. Franklin continued to intensify throughout the weekend and by 5 a.m. EDT on Monday, Franklin had strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane. Franklin then reached Category 4 status during the midmorning. A major hurricane is one that packs maximum sustained winds of Category 3 or higher (at least 111 mph or 178 km/h) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSWHS).
While the storm was strengthening, an eyelike feature that was occasionally evident on Sunday on satellite imagery, indicated Franklin was strengthening. A very clear eye was visible on satellite as the storm achieved beautiful symmetry.
Franklin's general north-northeastward track moved the hurricane out of an area of warm water and low wind shear on Tuesday, and it started to lose wind intensity during the early hours of Wednesday morning, becoming a Category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph.
As the storm moves north-northeast into Wednesday night, it will remain well to the east of the United States and just northwest of Bermuda.
While a direct landfall is unlikely, the island nation of Bermuda will still face some impacts.
"AccuWeather's current forecast has the storm passing far enough to the northwest of Bermuda to limit significant impacts, though there will still be a period of gusty winds and rough surf," said Buckingham.
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The rough surf and swells began across Bermuda as early as Monday, creating challenging rip currents and dangerous swimming conditions. Strong winds and bands of heavy rain will persist through Wednesday night , even though the core of Franklin should pass to the northwest and then north of the island nation.
"As Franklin passes to the northwest of Bermuda, a period of 40- to 60-mph (65- to 95-km/h) wind gusts [is] expected into midweek," said Buckingham. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for wind in Bermuda is 75 mph (120 km/h), which can be enough to bring down tree limbs and cause minor damage.
While no rain and wind are forecast, the eastern United States will have some indirect impacts from Franklin this week as it churns well offshore. Rough surf and strong rip currents are expected to impact the beaches along the East Coast through Wednesday.
"Vacationers and residents alike along the coast should be prepared for dangerous swimming conditions," warned Buckingham. "There is even the potential for beach closures."
The prospects of rough surf and beach closures are poor timing for those looking to get in some last-minute swimming as meteorological summer draws to a close this week and many schools return to session.
The waves and rough surf generated by Franklin could worsen tidal flooding along the East coast, which is expected to occur at times of high tide around the full "Super Blue Moon" in the middle of this week. This will especially be the case in areas along the Southeast coast that are most sensitive to tidal flooding, such as Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, and Miami Beach in Florida.
Hurricane Franklin comes amid a busy period in the tropical Atlantic. Hurricane Idalia was named on Sunday and will impact Florida as a major hurricane on Wednesday. Meanwhile, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring two other areas in the eastern Atlantic where tropical storm formation could occur by late in the week.
On Tuesday morning, Tropical Depression 11 formed about 850 miles to the east-southeast of Bermuda. Ramp-up to a tropical storm may occur by Thursday morning. There is no threat to land from the system as it will drift northward over the central Atlantic.
The statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is less than two weeks away, on Sept. 10.
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