Hurricane Larry Strengthens to Cat. 2

Hurricane Larry strengthened to Category 2 over the Atlantic Ocean on Friday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Larry was located at latitude 15.0°N and longitude 42.0°W which put it about 1320 miles (2125 km) east of the Leeward Islands. Larry was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

Hurricane Larry intensified to Category 2 on Friday afternoon. A small circular eye was present at the center of Larry. The eye was surround be a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Larry. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Larry. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Larry will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Larry will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Larry will intensify during the next 36 hours. Larry is likely to strengthen to a major hurricane during the weekend.

Hurricane Larry will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high will steer Larry toward the west-northwest during that time period. On it anticipated track Hurricane Larry will move in the general direction of Bermuda.