Fred Now a Category 2 Hurricane

September 9, 2009

According to the most recent bulletin (5:00 a.m. AST) from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fred has intensified to a Category 2 hurricane on the Safer-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of around 105 mph, 165 km/hr, with higher gusts.

The NHC said “some additional strengthening is forecast, and Fred could become a major hurricane later today.” However, the NHC added that “weakening is expected to begin on Thursday.”

The center of hurricane Fred was located in the eastern Atlantic, approximately 500 miles, 805 kms, west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.

The hurricane is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph, 20 km/hr, “and a turn toward the northwest and then north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.”

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles, 35 kms, from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles, 140 kms. Estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb, 28.64 inches.

Source: National Hurricane Center – www.nhc.noaa.gov

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane

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