Hurricane Larry Spins Southeast of Bermuda

Hurricane Larry was spinning southeast of Bermuda on Sunday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Larry was located at latitude 20.5°N and longitude 50.6°W which put it about 1195 miles (1925 km) southeast of Bermuda. Larry was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 955 mb.

The circulation around Hurricane Larry continued to be symmetrical. A large eye was present at the center of Larry. 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 Larry. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The circulation around Larry was nearly in balance with the environment around the hurricane. The upper level divergence was pumping out as much mass as was being brought into Hurricane Larry by convergence in the lower levels. So, the minimum surface pressure was remaining nearly constant.

The circulation around Hurricane Larry increased in size. Winds to hurricane force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Larry. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Larry was 23.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 39.9.

Hurricane Larry is likely to remain nearly in balance with its environment during the next 36 hours. Larry will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28˚C. It will move around the eastern side of an upper level trough north of Puerto Rico. The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Larry’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not have a significant impact on Larry’s circulation. Hurricane Larry is likely to maintain its intensity during the next 36 hours.

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