Hurricane Fabian closes in on Bermuda

MIAMI (AFP) Sep 05, 2003
Hurricane Fabian unleashed furious winds along the Bermuda coast Friday as it thundered toward the British dependency, which is braced for the full brunt of the storm, forecasters said.

"We can only hope for the best," said Lixion Avila, of the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), which has been tracking the potentially destructive weather system.

At 1800 GMT, the center of the storm was located 60 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the Atlantic Ocean island group and moving north at 28 kilometers (17 miles) per hour.

"On this track, the inner core of dangerous hurricane Fabian will be pounding Bermuda for the next few hours," said Avila.

Fabian's fringes already hit Bermuda early Friday, with sustained winds of 138 kilometers (86 miles) per hour and a peak gust of almost 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour recorded.

"This morning the island has started to feel the effects of Hurricane Fabian. Conditions will continue to deteriorate with winds increasing from Tropical Storm to Hurricane Force through the afternoon," the Bermuda Weather Service said.

"Hurricane winds, thunderstorms, heavy surf, storm surge and possible tornadoes will affect the island until tomorrow," it said, urging residents to remain indoors.

A "large and severe hurricane," Fabian packed maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour, with some higher gusts, the Miami-based NHC said.

Hurricane-force winds extended 185 kilometers (115 miles) from the center of the storm, and tropical storm force winds 370 kilometers (230 miles).

Avila said Bermuda could expect storm surge flooding and "dangerous battering waves", while large swells were likely along parts of the US east coast.

Bermuda's Public Safety Minister, Randy Horton, warned that the hurricane could be the worst ever to hit Bermuda, located 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) southeast of New York.

"We have to assume the worst case scenario" he told journalists in Bermuda.

"If the storm strikes us directly by the afternoon or evening it could do substantial damage."

Meanwhile, tropical storm Henri headed toward Florida from the Gulf of Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers (45 miles) per hour.

At 1800 GMT, the center of the storm was located 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Cedar Key, Florida

"The center is expected to reach the Gulf Coast of Florida tonight," the NHC said, adding that heavy rains and flooding could be expected. It also warned of the possibility of isolated tornadoes late Friday in parts of central and north Florida.

TERRA.WIRE