Bermuda Issues Tropical Storm Watch for Potential Effects of Hurricane Larry

Bermuda issued a Tropical Storm Watch on Tuesday because of the potential effects of Hurricane Larry. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Larry was located at latitude 24.8°N and longitude 55.8°W which put it about 750 miles (1210 km) southeast of Bermuda. Larry was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (13 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. (225 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for Bermuda.

Hurricane Larry remained a large, powerful hurricane even though it was slowly weakening. A large eye with a diameter of 60 miles (95 km) was at the center of Larry. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Winds to hurricane force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Larry. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 165 miles (265 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Larry was 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 22.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 43.0.

Hurricane Larry will move through an environment that is slightly unfavorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. The large circulation around Larry seems to have mixed cooler water to the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Since the circulation is so large, when the winds mix cooler water on the northern side of Hurricane Larry eventually the core of the hurricane will move over that cooler water. Larry will likely be unable to extract enough energy from the ocean to maintain its full circulation. Hurricane Larry will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear. Since there will be little vertical wind shear, Hurricane Larry is likely to weaken gradually.

Hurricane Larry will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high will steer Larry toward the northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Hurricane Larry will pass east of Bermuda on Thursday. The western side of Larry could bring tropical storm force winds to Bermuda.