On Alert: Hurricane Franklin Gains Strength on Path Towards Bermuda

Hurricane Franklin Tracker

Hurricane Franklin is undergoing rapid and significant strengthening, solidifying its position as the foremost major hurricane in the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. This intensification is taking place over the warm waters situated between the East Coast and Bermuda.

As of the latest updates, Franklin has escalated to a Category 4 hurricane status, with indications pointing towards its further intensification while traversing the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center took the step of releasing a special advisory when Franklin's wind speeds surged to 145 mph, surpassing the required 130 mph threshold for a Category 4 classification as noted above.

The hurricane is currently undergoing what's known as rapid intensification, where its wind speeds are increasing by a minimum of 35 mph within a span of 24 hours.

The NHC's data, gathered from Hurricane Hunter aircraft, recorded wind speeds of 145 mph with even higher gusts, while the central pressure within the hurricane dropped to 938 mb. This swift escalation is anticipated to persist through Monday afternoon.

A segment of the Air Force Reserve unit named the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters have conducted multiple flights into Hurricane Franklin, including penetrating the storm's eye over the past weekend.

Projections from the NHC suggest that Franklin will begin to weaken starting Tuesday afternoon. The hurricane's center is predicted to pass to the west of Bermuda on Wednesday.

Although weather experts are forecasting significant swells and rip currents along the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts throughout the Labor Day weekend, the prevailing forecast remains that Franklin will not make landfall in the United States.

Hurricane Franklin’s Course

The big question now is, will Hurricane Franklin make landfall in the United States? Experts suggest that while Hurricane Franklin’s course may come in direct contact with the mainland, certain areas will feel its effects.

Despite the fact that Hurricane Franklin's center is predicted to pass more than 500 miles to the east of the United States, it will still have a notable impact on the sea conditions, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday.

Current forecasts indicate that we can expect waves ranging from 3 to 6 feet, along with a significant risk of rip currents at our local beaches. This risk will be especially pronounced over the Cape and Islands area in New England.

In the longer term, the effects of Franklin's movement will determine the extent to which the United States will experience the system. However, there is a more clear understanding of what to anticipate along the U.S. East Coast over the next few days.

There has already been a display of lower to mid-period swells along the southern portion of the coast during this weekend. This has combined with a mix of wind swell from frontal systems and easterly swells, boosting the wave heights to at least chest-high.

A mid-period swell will build up, starting from the south and progressing northward on Monday. The swell will first affect Florida and the Outer Banks. Although conditions may not be ideal due to light onshore winds, the significant increase in wave size through the day will likely offset these concerns.

Franklin's swell will also extend towards the Mid-Atlantic, Long Island, and south-facing spots of New England. However, onshore easterly winds will create unfavorable conditions at most of these locations. Additionally, the presence of a mix of other swells in the water will somewhat obscure the wave offerings on Monday.

Hurricane Preparations in the Caribbean

There's a significant potential for life-threatening surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast.

Implementing thorough hurricane preparedness measures in the Caribbean is crucial to safeguarding lives and property during the hurricane season. With the region being highly susceptible to these powerful storms, taking proper precautions can significantly minimize the potential impact of these natural disasters.