Hurricane Nicole is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Bermuda on Thursday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Nicole was located at latitude 32.3°N and longitude 64.6°W which put it about 10 miles (15 km) east of Bermuda.  Nicole was moving toward the northeast at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 961 mb.  A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Bermuda.

Nicole is a large powerful hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extend out about 65 miles (105 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 180 miles (290 km) from the center.  The diameter of the eye is approximately 35 miles (55 km).

A weather station on Pearl Island reported sustained winds to 87 m.p.h. (141 km/h) with wind gusts to 119 m.p.h. (191 km/h).  An elevated weather station at Commissioner’s Point reported sustained winds to 92 m.p.h. (148 km/h) and wind gusts to 122 m.p.h. (196 km/h).

Hurricane Nicole is moving toward the northeast at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  So, it will take approximately two hours for the eye of Hurricane Nicole to move across Bermuda.  After the eye passes, hurricane force winds in the southern half of Nicole will affect Bermuda.  The winds should gradually diminish later today when Hurricane Nicole moves northeast of Bermuda.