Hurricane Humberto Strengthens to a Major Hurricane, Warning for Bermuda

Hurricane Humberto strengthened into a major hurricane on Tuesday and a Hurricane Warning was issued for Bermuda.  At 11:00 pm. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Humberto was located at latitude 31.3°N and longitude 71.0°W which put it about 370 miles (595 km) west of Bermuda.  Humberto was moving toward the east-northeast at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 951 mb.

Hurricane Humberto exhibited the structure of a large mature hurricane on Tuesday night.  There was a circular eye at the center of circulation.  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Humberto.  The stronger rainbands were occurring in the northern half of the circulation.  Humberto appeared to be drawing drier air around the southern half of the circulation and bands in that part of the hurricane consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Winds to hurricane force extended out about 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Hurricane Humberto.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 150 miles (240 km) from the center of circulation.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Humberto was 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 37.5.  Hurricane Humberto was capable of causing major wind damage.

Hurricane Humberto will remain in an environment capable of supporting a major hurricane for another 12 to 24 hours.  Humberto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  An upper level trough over the eastern U.S. will produce southwesterly winds which will blow toward the top of the hurricane.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear may not be strong enough to cause Hurricane Humberto to weaken on Wednesday.

Hurricane Humberto will move around the northern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high and the upper level trough over the eastern U.S.  will combine to steer Humberto toward the east-northeast on Wednesday.  On its anticipated track the center of Hurricane Humberto could approach Bermuda on Wednesday evening.  Humberto could still be a major hurricane at that time.  If the center of Hurricane Humberto passes just north of Bermuda, then the strongest winds could affect Bermuda.

Elsewhere, Tropical Depression Imelda was dropping heavy rain near Houston, Texas and Tropical Depression Ten was churning toward the northern Leeward Islands.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Imelda was located at latitude 29.8°N and longitude 95.5°W which put it about 10 miles (15 km) northwest of Houston, Texas.  Imelda was moving toward the north at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there  were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Ten was located at latitude 13.7°N and longitude 46.7°W which put it about 1030 miles (1660 km) east of the Leeward Islands.  It was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.