Tropical Storm Epsilon Strengthens, Watch Issued for Bermuda

Tropical Storm Epsilon strengthened on Tuesday and a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for Bermuda. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Epsilon was located at latitude 27.9°N and longitude 55.8°W which put it about 615 miles (995 km) east-southeast of Bermuda. Epsilon was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

A Tropical Storm was in effect for Bermuda.

Tropical Storm Epsilon strengthened steadily on Tuesday. The structure of Epsilon exhibited much better organization on satellite imagery. Thunderstorms formed all around the center of circulation. There were occasional indications that an eye could be forming at the center of Tropical Storm Epsilon. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Epsilon. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away to the east of the tropical storm. The circulation around Tropical Storm Epsilon was large, especially on the northern side. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 300 miles (500 km) on the northern side of Epsilon. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the southern half of Epsilon.

Tropical Storm Espilon will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next couple of days.  Epsilon will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will be in an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Some drier air may wrap around the southern side of the circulation, but the drier air is not forecast to penetrate to the core of the tropical storm. Epsilon could intensify into a hurricane during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Epsilon will move around the southwestern part of ridge of high pressure over the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean.  The ridge will steer Epsilon toward the northwest during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Epsilon will move more toward the north when it moves around the western end of the ridge. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Epsilon could pass east of Bermuda on Thursday night. Epsilon is likely to be a hurricane when it passes east of Bermuda.