Hurricane Kirk rapidly intensified to a major hurricane over the tropical Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Kirk was located at latitude 19.5°N and longitude 44.5°W which put the center about 1140 miles (1835 km) east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles. Kirk was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 952 mb.
Hurricane Kirk rapidly intensified to a major hurricane on Wednesday. A circular eye with a diameter of 35 miles (55 km) formed at the center of Kirk’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center of Hurricane Kirk. Storms near the center of Kirk generated upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the hurricane. The removal of large amounts of mass caused the pressure to decrease rapidly.
The size of the circulation around Hurricane Kirk increased when Kirk intensified on Wednesday. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Kirk’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 220 miles (355 km) from the center of Hurricane Kirk.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) was 23.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 13.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 37.0.
Hurricane Kirk will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Kirk will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over the central Atlantic Ocean. The winds are weak near the middle of the upper level ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Kirk will intensify during the next 24 hours. Kirk could strengthen to a Category 5 hurricane.
Hurricane Kirk will move around the southwestern part of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Kirk toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Kirk will remain far from any land area.
Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Leslie formed southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Leslie was located at latitude 10.4°N and longitude 30.1°W which put the center about 490 miles (790 km) southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Leslie was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.