Weather

Hurricane Epsilon Gains Strength; Could Threaten Atlantic Coast

According to the NHC's update on Saturday, Epsilon remains a large hurricane as it turns northeast toward the Atlantic coast.

According to the NHC's update on Saturday, Epsilon remains a large hurricane as it turns northeast toward the Atlantic coast.
According to the NHC's update on Saturday, Epsilon remains a large hurricane as it turns northeast toward the Atlantic coast. (NHC)

MIAMI, FL — The area of low pressure in the northwest Caribbean Sea continues to become better organized. If the current trends continue, the National Hurricane Center said advisories will be issued on a tropical depression this afternoon or evening. But, as of 2 p.m., there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

According to the NHC's update on Saturday, Epsilon remains a large hurricane as it turns northeast toward the Atlantic coast. It is now 465 miles north-northeast of Bermuda and 710 miles southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

The center of Hurricane Epsilon was moving toward the northeast at 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph with higher gusts.

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A rapid acceleration to the northeast is expected to occur later today through Sunday, with a fast northeast to east-northeast motion forecast to occur Sunday evening into early next week.

Epsilon is forecast to become a large and powerful post-tropical cyclone on Sunday.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 405 miles.

Large swells generated by Epsilon will affect Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, the Leeward Islands, the east coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

The system could move near western Cuba by Sunday and move slowly across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early next week.

Residents in western Cuba, the Florida Keys and southern Florida should monitor the progress of this disturbance.

Regardless of its development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, southern Florida, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas through the weekend.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami will issue a new update at 5 p.m.


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