Bermuda Braces for Hurricane Teddy as Storm is Expected to Pass East of British Territory

  • Staff Consortium
  • September 21, 2020
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Satellite imagery of Hurricane Teddy moving near Bermuda. By. THE WEATHER CHANNEL

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC  — Storm surge began hitting Bermuda’s south shore on Sunday as Hurricane Teddy continued to head towards the island, but forecasters expect it to pass to the east.

Even so, residents on the 21-square-mile British Overseas Territory have been told to expect winter-storm conditions over the next two days as Teddy’s tropical-storm-force winds buffet the island.

A tropical storm warning is already in effect.

The National Hurricane Center at 2:00 a.m. Sunday said the center of Hurricane Teddy was located near latitude 29.7 North, longitude 63.5 West. Teddy is moving toward the north near 6 mph (9 km/h). Although some fluctuations in heading are likely, the hurricane is expected to move generally northward through Tuesday evening, followed by a turn toward the northeast on Wednesday.

The center of Teddy will pass east of Bermuda today and then approach Nova Scotia late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible Monday night while Teddy begins to interact with an approaching frontal system. Although gradual weakening is forecast to begin mid-week, the cyclone is expected to remain a large and powerful hurricane Tuesday, then become a strong post-tropical cyclone when it nears Nova Scotia by Wednesday morning

A week ago, Hurricane Paulette scored a direct hit on the island, knocking out power to 25,000 homes, downing trees and sinking a number of pleasure boats, but no serious injuries were reported. Two boys were born in hospital during the storm while 50 people sought refuge at a government shelter.

By Saturday night, only a handful of homes were still without power.

The latest prediction puts the storm’s closest point of approach at 125 miles to the east at noon on Monday with 98 mph winds near its centre. An earlier weekend forecast gave the closest point as 176 miles away.

Director of the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS), Dr Mark Guiscard, said Teddy was expected to make a sharp turn northwards over the weekend and begin to weaken.

“One of the silver linings of the last storm’s passage is that it generated cooler waters in our area, and that means Teddy will be moving into an environment that is conducive to its weakening, as it approaches Bermuda.

“We need to prepare for a prolonged tropical storm-force wind period becoming more like a winter gale and lasting through Monday and that will have an impact on recovery time after the closest point of approach.”

Winds of more than 20 mph are forecast for Sunday afternoon, rising to 40 mph by the evening. Sustained winds of 57 mph are forecast for early Monday, with peak gusts of 75 mph lasting until noon.

The authorities have said that public schools will be closed until Tuesday, although teachers will be expected to work from home.

They said principals and custodians will assess schools, but other staff are asked to avoid school buildings on Monday to enable any cleanup to go ahead.

Government buildings will also be closed on Monday, with public officers to work remotely from home.

The Causeway will remain open, as well as thel LF Wade International Airport, with staff in place to conduct Customs and immigration clearance. Ferries have stopped operations and buses will run until 9.00 pm (local time). Neither will operate on Monday and commuter service is due to resume on Tuesday.

But the authorities said that the shelter at CedarBridge Academy in Devonshire will not be needed for Hurricane Teddy, and will remain shut.

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