Hurricane Gordon Strengthens As Helene Forms
Pastor Dale Morgan
Sep 14, 11:24 PM EDT
*Hurricane Gordon Strengthens As Helene Forms*
MIAMI (AP) -- Tropical Storm Helene developed from a tropical depression
in the open Atlantic late Wednesday, while Hurricane Gordon strengthened
into a powerful Category 3 hurricane and the remnants of Hurricane
Florence brought high winds and heavy rain to Newfoundland in Canada,
forecasters said.
Helene had top sustained winds near 40 mph, just above the 39-mph
threshold for a tropical storm. It is the eighth named storm of the
Atlantic hurricane season.
At 11 p.m. EDT, it was located 565 miles west of the southernmost Cape
Verde Islands and moving west-northwest over warm Atlantic waters at 22
mph, forecasters said.
Gordon became a major hurricane when its top sustained winds jumped to
120 mph, up from 110 mph earlier in the day, forecasters said.
The hurricane was moving out to sea and was no threat to land, according
to the hurricane center. Gordon's clearly defined eye was centered about
555 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and moving north-northeast near 13 mph.
"It's possible that some waves could make their way toward Bermuda, but
right now the forecast track has Gordon well to the east of Bermuda,"
hurricane specialist Michelle Mainelli said. She said the British
territory should not even feel tropical storm force winds.
Florence's remains brought wind gusts of more than 100 mph and bands of
rain to southern and southeastern Newfoundland, and dangerous surf was
expected, according to the Canadian Hurricane Center.
Tropical storm warnings were discontinued late Wednesday as the
extratropical storm pulled away from Newfoundland.
Extratropical storms get their energy from the collision of warm and
cold fronts, not the steamy ocean waters that tropical systems feed on.
The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The
National Hurricane Center's latest forecast for the season expects
between seven and nine hurricanes.
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On the Net:
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov