Hurricane Epsilon rapidly intensified to status as a major hurricane on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Epsilon was located at latitude 29.6°N and longitude 60.0°W which put it about 340 miles (545 km) east-southeast of Bermuda. Epsilon was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 135 m.p.h. (220 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 955 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Bermuda.

Hurricane Epsilon continued to strengthen rapidly Wednesday afternoon. A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found on Wednesday afternoon that Epsilon rapidly intensified to a major hurricanee. A circular eye with a diameter of 14 miles (22 km) was that the center of Hurricane Epsilon. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Epsilon. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence which pumped mass away to the east of Epsilon. The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to decrease rapidly which caused the wind speeds to increase rapidly. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation. The broader circulation around Hurricane Epsilon was large, especially on the northern side. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 400 miles (645 km) on the northern side of Epsilon. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the southern half of Epsilon.

Hurricane Epsilon will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 12 to 24 hours.  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 hurricane. Epsilon could strengthen further during the next day or so.

Hurricane 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 hours.  Epsilon will move more toward the north when it moves around the western end of the ridge on Thursday. On its anticipated track Hurricane Epsilon could pass east of Bermuda on Thursday night.