Tropical Storm Gabrielle in close pass to Bermuda

Josh Ball in ABC News via Associated Press: Tropical Storm Gabrielle hit at Bermuda with wind, rain and rough surf early Wednesday as its center passed near the wealthy British territory, a day after reforming over the Atlantic.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm's center was about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west-southwest of Bermuda early Wednesday and moving northward with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph).

Government authorities had urged people in the storm-hardened Atlantic territory to finish last-minute preparations, and some residents left work early. Customers crowded into supermarkets to buy candles, batteries and other emergency supplies.

"Gabrielle has proven somewhat unpredictable and so I caution everyone to take this storm seriously and to prepare for the forecast conditions," Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said.

The territory suspended ferry service Tuesday afternoon as wind and rain picked up, and officials announced that schools would be closed Wednesday. Airline flights were cancelled Tuesday....

The track of Tropical Storm Gabrielle, created by Supportstorm, which has released the map into the public domain

Hurricane Otto eyes Bermuda

Jamaica Observer: The eighth hurricane for the 2010 season was formed yesterday and was moving towards Bermuda, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC). It said that Hurricane Otto, a Category One storm, was packing winds of 75 miles per hour. It was situated 445 miles south of Bermuda and that while there are no coastal or other warnings in effect, the hurricane could strengthen over the next few hours. But the NHC said that Hurricane Otto should begin weakening by late today….

'Very large' Hurricane Igor leaves Bermuda

Sam Strangeways and Ruth O’Kelly Lynch in Reuters: Hurricane Igor pounded Bermuda with high winds and driving rain early on Monday as it moved north over the Atlantic, skirting the U.S. East Coast, which should suffer only rough surf and a stiff breeze. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the core of the "very large" category 1 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds near to 75 miles per hour, was about 127 miles north northwest of Bermuda, a popular resort and global insurance service hub, as of 5 a.m. EDT/0900 GMT.

Hurricane force winds extended about 90 miles from its core. The hurricane was moving north northeast at 20 miles per hour. A turn northwest away from the U.S. coast and an increase in forward speed were expected in the next 24 hours.

…Bermuda residents reported uprooted trees, flying debris, widespread power outages, some flooding of streets and homes and boats torn free from moorings. There were no immediate reports of casualties…

Hurricane Igor on September 17, 2010

Hurricane Igor takes aim at Bermuda

Reuters: Hurricane Igor headed across the Atlantic on Saturday with 110-mph/175-kph winds and heavy rains that threatened to batter Bermuda. Igor, located about 475 miles/765 km south of Bermuda at 7 a.m. (8 a.m. EST), was just shy of becoming a Category 3 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale….

That's Igor yesterday, shot by NASA

Storms ramp up in Atlantic

Sydney Morning Herald: Hurricane Danielle, the strongest storm of the Atlantic season, surged to a Category Four intensity Friday followed close behind by Earl, a tropical storm that could hit the Caribbean within days, US forecasters said. "Danielle is a Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson (five-step) scale," with sustained winds of 135 miles (215 kilometers) per hour, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in a bulletin just before 0900 GMT. "Some additional strengthening is possible in the next 24 hours."

Danielle -- the second and strongest to date of the 2010 Atlantic hurricanes -- is forecast to track well east of Bermuda and then curl to the northeast and out to sea. But the hurricane will likely drench the island chain with rain and the NHC said "interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Danielle."

…Danielle surged in strength in just a few hours from Category Two to Category Four, the second highest level on the NHC's scale. Category Four storms cause "catastrophic damage" when they make landfall, with "a very high risk of injury or death to people, livestock, and pets due to flying and falling debris," according to the NHC. Shortly before 0900 GMT the hurricane was 875 kilometers southeast of Bermuda and moving to the northwest at 19 kilometers per hour, but there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the center said.

Of greater concern out in the Atlantic was Tropical Storm Earl, which forecasters expect to reach hurricane status by late Saturday and then threaten the eastern Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, by late Monday or early Tuesday….

On August 22, Danielle was still a Tropical Depression

Hurricane Danielle to strengthen, head near Bermuda

Eileen Moustakis in Reuters: Hurricane Danielle, which strengthened early Tuesday in the open Atlantic Ocean to a Category 2 storm, packing winds of 100 miles per hour, was expected to gain strength but posed no threat to energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico as it headed northwest and to the east of Bermuda.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said early Tuesday that Danielle was about 1,100 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, moving west at 20 mph. According to several forecasters, the storm was expected to strengthen by early Wednesday to Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale at its intensity peak, with sustained winds over 111 mph.

Computer models showed Danielle curving to the northwest on a path that would keep it over open seas, turning more northerly to the east of Bermuda…..

Hurricane Danielle as of August 23, 2010 13:20 UTC.

Report reveals alarming climate change prospects for Bermuda

The Royal Gazette (Bermuda): Climate change is as much a threat to Bermuda as to the rest of the world and a report recently tabled in the House of Assembly details the devastation the Island could experience. Here Amanda Dale looks at what 'The Impact of Climate Change on Bermuda' says.

It's a report to set alarm bells ringing a significant loss of beaches and coastline, flooding inundating hundreds of acres of land, the prospect of food shortages, an impact on tourism and threats to the Island's airport and power supplies.

…The report includes an analysis of its effects on key elements of life, including: tourism; health; energy; freshwater resources; agriculture; fisheries; architectural heritage; coastline; plants, trees and wildlife; and coral reefs. And it shows that:

• With a sea level rise of 0.59 metres the upper limit predicted by the International Panel for Climate Change for this century at least 31 percent of Bermuda's beach and dune habitats would be inundated and as much as 186 hectares of land could be inundated during high tides
• If the ice sheets melt, the rise in sea levels could be as high as two metres which would "drown" L.F. Wade International Airport and flood up to 2,000 residential and commercial buildings. The main power plant at Belco would also be swamped.
• Climate change will also trigger more intense hurricanes, droughts and flash floods, as rising temperatures make global rainfall patterns increasingly erratic. Annual rainfall is expected to increase by seven percent, with less frequent but heavier downpours.
• …There will be a socio-economic impact of climate change including a loss of income and productivity, population displacement and social disruption, diminished quality of life, pyschological stress and increased costs to healthcare.
• Tourism will be affected by possible greenhouse gas reduction policies. Aircraft and cruise ships are significant contributors to greenhouse gases

New report highlights threat of climate change on Bermuda

Royal Gazette (Bermuda): A report on 'The Impact of Climate Change of Bermuda' forecasts stronger hurricanes and extensive flooding. Up to 14 percent of the Island's land area could soon be at risk of flooding during high tides, while sea level rise and increased storm intensity will also threaten coastal areas.

Premier Ewart Brown highlighted the findings of the report, by Dr. Anne Glasspool, to MPs in the House of Assembly yesterday. Dr. Brown said although the Island's size makes its greenhouse gas emissions "negligible" in global terms, the expected impact of climate change will necessitate extensive planning. He said that in the past 20 years, the world's population has increased by a third. Annual emissions of greenhouse gases have also risen by a third.

"Bermuda's challenge will be for our leaders and our residents to understand and accept the science that supports climate change, be aware of the threats of climate change to Bermuda, and for us to come together and effectively plan for our future sustainability, by identifying, agreeing and adopting the correct mitigation measures to offset the forecasted threats of this global phenomenon," said Dr. Brown.

A public education initiative is now underway to raise awareness of the issue. The Premier told MPs: "Through the combined efforts of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of the Environment, along with the architects of this work on the Bermuda perspective the Bermuda National Trust, and under the leadership and coordination of the Sustainable Development Unit, a series of public relations, education and information initiatives are being planned….