Hurricane Earl puts Bermuda under tropical storm watch

Tropical storm Earl intensified to become hurricane Earl over night, as the fifth named Atlantic storm of the season became the second to reach hurricane status and set a path towards the north, with the island of Bermuda now under a tropical storm watch for a relatively close pass.

Bermuda is currently under a tropical storm watch, but the NHC warns that hurricane Earl could produce tropical storm force winds on Bermuda beginning on Thursday.

The expectation and forecast track suggests that hurricane Earl will pass to the east of Bermuda, as it curves slightly on its track north.

Hurricane Earl is the second hurricane of the season that has made a turn to head north through the Atlantic, destined for an extratropical transition further north.

Earl currently has 80 mph sustained winds, but is forecast to reach major hurricane strength, with Category 3 or stronger winds expected by the time it parallels Bermuda.

While the expectation and all forecast models keep hurricane Earl to the east of Bermuda, how close the hurricane comes will define how disruptive it could be and the islands reinsurance and ILS community will no doubt keep a close eye on Earl over the next 24 hours or so.

Hurricane Earl is also expected to result in rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches or 25 to 50 mm across Bermuda through Friday, although again, if Earl comes any closer to the island these rainfall totals could increase significantly, should Bermuda come under any outer bands of the hurricane.

Track the 2022 Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane season on our dedicated page and we’ll update you as new information emerges.