Travel Tips

Hurricane Bill Gains Strength, Changes Course

Locations in this article:  Miami, FL

Hurricane on satelliteThree days after it formed far out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Bill has rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 storm and is threatening to wreak havoc on Bermuda and eastern Canada as it moves north.

As of Monday Bill was only a Category 1 hurricane and was headed west-northwest toward Puerto Rico.

Forecasters had predicted that it would shift north then east over a five-day period, narrowly missing Bermuda, and eventually dissipate over the north Atlantic. However over the last two days…… forecasters have revised their predictions and now think that Bill may either pass between Bermuda and the east coast of the United States—or even pass over Bermuda—then stay on a northeasterly course and hit the maritime provinces of Canada.

It is still too early to tell exactly how close Bill will get to the U.S. mainland, but it is expected to create heavy surf in parts of the southeastern U.S. coast on Friday and Saturday.

Previously: Claudette Fizzles, Bill Picks Up Steam as Atlantic Hurricane Season Kicks Off.

Right now Bill is situated about 350 miles east of the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands, but it is expected to pass well to the northeast of the chain in the next 24 hours. Top wind speeds are currently being measured at 135 mph, but they could get even stronger.

Hurricane Bill’s new pathBermudians are understandably concerned about the possibility of being pummeled by a powerful storm. The last time a hurricane hit the island was in 2003, when Hurricane Fabian killed four people.

Even if Hurricane Bill passes to the west of the island, its massive size could create dangerous consequences in the form of huge waves and high winds. Experts say that in a storm as large as Bill winds of 39 to 73 mph can extend up to 175 miles from the center.

If the storm does hit Canada, it is not expected to pose much of a threat because it will have weakened considerably at that point by the colder waters of the north Atlantic.

By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related links: Associated Press, Miami Herald, Wall Street Journal, Reuters

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