Tropical Storm Nicole intensified into a hurricane on Tuesday afternoon and a Hurricane Warning was issued for Bermuda.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Nicole was located at latitude 27.4°N and longitude 66.4°W which put it about 350 miles (565 km) south-southwest of Bermuda.  Nicole was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 980 mb.

The organization of the circulation of Hurricane Nicole improved rapidly on Tuesday afternoon.  The primary rainband wrapped around the center of circulation and an eye developed.  The eye currently has a diameter of about 30 miles (48 km).  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounds the eye.  Those thunderstorms are producing well developed upper level divergence which is pumping out mass in all directions.  Additional rainbands are developing in the rest of the circulation.  Nicole is a relatively small hurricane.  Hurricane force winds only extend out about 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds on extend out about 120 miles (195 km) from the center.

The environment around Hurricane Nicole became much more favorable on Tuesday afternoon.  The winds in the upper level weakened and the vertical wind shear diminished.  The weaker upper level winds also allowed the upper level divergence to pump out more mass and the pressure decreased 10 mb in six hours on Tuesday afternoon.  Less vertical wind shear allowed Hurricane Nicole to extract energy more efficiently from the ocean.  Hurricane Nicole is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  Nicole is likely to intensify for another 36 to 48 hours.  So, Hurricane Nicole will continue to intensify and it could intensify rapidly.  Nicole could be a major hurricane by the time it nears Bermuda.

Nicole is moving around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system which is steering the hurricane toward the northwest.  When Hurricane Nicole reaches the western end of the high, it will turn more toward the north.  As Hurricane Nicole moves farther north, the westerly winds in the middle latitudes will turn it toward the northeast.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Nicole could approach Bermuda on Thursday morning.  It could be a major hurricane at that time.