Perilous Times and Climate Change
Hurricane Igor heads for direct hit on Bermuda
By the CNN Wire Staff
September 18, 2010 2:18 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* NEW: Residents in Bermuda are bracing for a direct hit
* Conditions are expected to deteroriate Saturday
* The storm is projected to pass over the island late Sunday or
early Monday
Editor's Note: Are you in Hurricane Igor's path? We want to hear from
you.Share your photos and video with CNN iReport, but please stay safe.
(CNN) -- Residents in Bermuda on Saturday braced for a direct hit from
Hurricane Igor as it churned toward the Atlantic island as a Category 2
storm.
Conditions on the island are expected to deteriorate Saturday ahead of
Igor's expected passover late Sunday or early Monday, according to the
National Hurricane Center.
"Igor is expected to remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches
Bermuda," the center said.
Large waves generated by the storm were already pounding beaches
Saturday afternoon, CNN iReporter Michael Branco said.
"A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal
flooding on Bermuda," the hurricane center said. "The surge will be
accompanied by large and destructive waves, especially along the
southern coast."
The weather agency said swells will affect the East Coast of the United
States, Puerto Rico, the Leeward Islands, Hispanola and parts of the
Bahamas over the weekend.
"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
currents," the hurricane center said.
The storm could also produce as much as 8 inches of rainfall over the
island, according to the center.
Branco, a native Bermudian, spent Saturday morning putting up storm
blinds on his windows and securing his pets inside the house. On
Friday, he stocked up on bottled water, canned food and batteries.
He said that despite riding a number of storms out on the island, "this
one has my attention thus I am taking it very seriously."
Branco said he's most worried about potential damage to the roof of his
home, which faces the island's southern shore -- the frontline for the
approaching Igor's northerly track.
"Our roofs, which we use to catch our drinking water, can sometimes be
vulnerable to high winds and pressure changes, so fingers crossed our
roof is OK," he said.
As of 11 a.m. ET, Igor was about 440 miles (710 km) south of Bermuda,
packing winds of about 110 mph (175 kph) as it headed northwest at 12
mph (19 kph). Hurricane-force winds extend up to 105 miles (165 km)
from the center.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Julia continued to diminish Saturday farther
east in the Atlantic.
As of 11 a.m., Julia's maximum sustained winds weakened to 50 mph (85
kph), the weather agency said. No coastal warnings or watches were in
effect from Julia, and the storm is forecast to become a remnant low by
early Monday, according to the hurricane center.