Showing posts with label hurricane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hurricane. Show all posts

Monday, October 27, 2014

Bermuda begins cleaning up after Hurricane Gonzalo - Hawaii hit by winds, rains from Hurricane Ana - FOX NEWS WEATHER CENTER

Bermuda Tropical Weat_Cham640360.jpg October 18, 2014: An uprooted tree lies across a sea front street after Hurricane Gonzalo hit the island in Hamilton, Bermuda. (AP Photo/David Skinner)

Crews cleared away downed trees and power lines Saturday after Hurricane Gonzalo battered this tiny, wealthy British territory for several hours but caused no deaths or serious injuries.

The storm’s center crossed over Bermuda late Friday and Gonzalo quickly moved northward over the Atlantic on a track that could take it just off the shore of Newfoundland in Canada early Sunday.

More than 18,000 homes in Bermuda were still without power Saturday night, but Premier Michael Dunkley said cleanup efforts were going smoothly. He said the U.S., Britain and other nations have offered assistance.

“All hands were on deck and worked very well,” he tweeted Saturday night. “Much to be done but we are roaring back!”

Gonzalo approached Bermuda as a Category 3 storm then weakened to Category 2 strength just before coming ashore with sustained winds of 110 mph. Even after beginning to move away, its fierce winds battered the island for hours.

Maria Frith, who owns Grape Bay Cottages on Bermuda’s south coast, said in a phone interview that the hurricane woke her up before dawn when it tore the patio roof off her house.

“To be perfectly honest with you, I was terrified, partly because of the noise,” she said. “It was really scary.”

Some Bermudians woke up to toppled concrete walls, uprooted palm trees and boats run aground. Gonzalo ripped part of the roof off the island’s legislature as well as the roof of an exhibit at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.

No catastrophic damage was reported on Bermuda, which has one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world and is known for strict building codes meant to ensure homes can withstand sustained winds of at least 110 mph.

Officials had not yet announced whether government offices and schools would reopen Monday. The island’s international airport remained closed Saturday night but officials said it might reopen Sunday afternoon.

The last major hurricane to strike Bermuda was Fabian in September 2003. That Category 3 storm killed three police officers and a civilian and caused more than $100 million in damage.

The island was still recovering from last weekend’s blast from Tropical Storm Fay, which also damaged homes and toppled power lines.

“To be struck twice by two different cyclones is unusual, to say the least,” said Max Mayfield, a former director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Gonzalo weakened as it moved away from Bermuda on a track that would take it past Newfoundland and then across the Atlantic to Britain and Ireland.

Late Saturday, the storm was centered 360 miles southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph as it moved northeast at 39 mph.

Forecasters said it would pass close to Cape Race early Sunday. Officials said there could be some flooding.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for the Grand Banks area, where three major offshore oil installations are located. Operators of the Hibernia, Terra Nova and SeaRose sites announced no plans to evacuate the three crews, which generally total more than 700.

Across the Atlantic, Britain’s meteorological agency issued an alert for strong winds and heavy rain expected Tuesday from the remains of Gonzalo. It warned of the potential for significant disruption of travel and difficult driving conditions.

Gonzalo earlier claimed one life in the Dutch territory of St. Maarten and the hurricane center said it could still whip up dangerous surf on portions of the U.S. coast and Canada.

In southern Mexico, the brief Tropical Storm Trudy was downgraded to a tropical depression as it continued to dump heavy rain. Authorities warned of the danger of flash floods and landslides.


View the original article here



Bermuda begins cleaning up after Hurricane Gonzalo - Hawaii hit by winds, rains from Hurricane Ana - FOX NEWS WEATHER CENTER

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Bermuda "bruised" by Hurricane Gonzalo

19 October 2014 Last updated at 07:52 Stefano Ausenda shovels debris away from his driveway after Hurricane Gonzalo passed through in Sandys Parish, western Bermuda, October 18, 2014 Hurricane Gonzalo was the strongest storm since 2011 but caused less damage than initially feared Bermudans are clearing up after a direct hit from Hurricane Gonzalo downed power lines and damaged buildings on the tiny Atlantic territory.

Bermuda was “bruised” but came out of the storm better than expected, Premier Michael Dunkley said.

The storm made landfall on Friday, with rain and 175km/h (110mph) winds.

Only minor injuries were reported in what was the strongest storm to hit the island in a decade.

It was the second storm in a week to hit the island.

Damaged trees

Gonzalo caused power cuts to 31,200 homes, although two-thirds of people had their electricity restored by Saturday afternoon, according to the Bermuda Electric Company.

The hurricane also caused flooding, felled trees and damaged buildings.

A woman walks around debris after Hurricane Gonzalo passed through the Royal Naval Dockyard, western Bermuda, October 18, 2014 Bermuda frequently sees storms and has strict building regulations Yachts that have broken way from their moorings sit on a rock in Hamilton Harbour after hurricane Gonzalo hit the island in Hamilton, Bermuda, Saturday Oct. 18, 2014 Yachts broke free from their moorings

Initially a category 4 storm as it approached the island, Hurricane Gonzalo weakened and was downgraded to a category 2 storm on Friday before it made landfall on the British overseas territory.

The international airport in Bermuda, which is a British overseas territory, closed ahead of the storm and many roads were closed after being blocked by falling debris.

The main hospital saw some damage to its roof but otherwise fared well, Premier Dunkley said.

Hurricane Gonzalo swept by the eastern Caribbean earlier in the week

“As far as roads and infrastructure, we are in a much better position than many people might have thought,” he said.

The Royal Navy has deployed a frigate, HMS Argyll, along with trained medical personnel to help with the provision of humanitarian assistance in Bermuda, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

It said the ship was en route to Bermuda, where it will help recover power, communications and water supplies, while a helicopter on the ship will carry out surveillance over the island.

Hurricane Gonzalo – next moves

Earlier last week, Tropical Storm Fay damaged homes and knocked down trees and power lines.

“To be struck twice by two different cyclones is unusual, to say the least,” said Max Mayfield, a former director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

line

Are you in Bermuda? Have you been affected by the hurricane? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here.

Read the terms and conditions.


View the original article here



Bermuda "bruised" by Hurricane Gonzalo

Monday, September 15, 2014

Bermuda watchful as Edouard expected to become a category 3 hurricane

hurricane-edouard2 Hurricane Edouard

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sunday September 14, 2014, CMC - Bermuda has been keeping close watch on Hurricane Edouard, the fifth named storm of the Atlantic season.

Already a Category one hurricane, Edouard is strengthening and is projected to pass to the island’s east on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Edouard was 915 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, packing winds of 80 miles per hour at it moved northwest at 16 mph.

Forecasters say Edouard is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane as it curves towards the north, before weakening as it reaches cooler waters.

The Bermuda Weather Service said Edouard was being closely monitored. But the storm is unlikely to be a threat to land.

On its current track Edouard is scheduled to be around 400 miles to the east-southeast of Bermuda on Tuesday evening.

Edouard follows three hurricanes and one tropical storm in what so far as been a relatively uneventful Atlantic hurricane season.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)


View the original article here



Bermuda watchful as Edouard expected to become a category 3 hurricane

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Hurricane Sandy disrupts Jamaica's growth projections

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared that the model currently being used to predict Jamaica’s economic growth has not been giving accurate outcomes.      
The Fund, in its latest report on Jamaica, said the problem had arisen largely because of the effects of  Hurricane Sandy. The Hurricane, which hit Jamaica in October 2012, led to major economic disruptions, particularly in agriculture and mining.      
The multi-lateral agency revealed that the economic growth indicator over projected growth in the aftermath of  the hurricane and under projected the rebound which occurred at the end of  last year.       
It said the model had predicted zero per cent growth for the end of  December, but the actual out turn was 1.8 per cent.     
It suggested that there may be a number of  reasons for the failure to accurately predict growth, including the implementation of  the IMF programme and the ongoing depreciation of  the currency.


View the original article here



Hurricane Sandy disrupts Jamaica"s growth projections

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Humberto first hurricane of season forms in the Atlantic

News

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 | 4:54 PM

HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — Humberto grew to hurricane force far out in the Atlantic early Wednesday, becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, while Bermuda shook off a drenching by Tropical Storm Gabrielle.Humberto’s maximum sustained winds were near 80 mph (130 kph) and the US National Hurricane Centre said it could gain more strength before a weakening trend likely starts, with the storm still far from land. It was centred about 340 miles (550 kilometres) west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and was moving north at 9 mph (15 kph).Meanwhile in Bermuda, Gabrielle caused several power outages overnight, but no major damage was reported on the British Territory.The Government announced that all public schools were reopening and there would be sporadic ferry service.The island’s meteorology service warned that strong winds and rain would continue to pelt Bermuda as the storm heads north.It is unusual for this much time to pass in the Atlantic season without a hurricane forming, though not unheard of. Hurricane Gustav was the first of the 2002 season when it formed on September 11 of that year. The record for the latest first-of-the-season hurricane is October 8, 1905, based on records dating to 1851.

HOUSE RULES


1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.


2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.


3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.


4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.


5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.


6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.


7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here



Humberto first hurricane of season forms in the Atlantic

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

22 St Mary Hurricane Sandy victims receive houses

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) –Twenty-two families in Crooked River, St Mary, who were displaced following the passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 have been provided with new homes.

Family members were presented with keys to the 22 new houses as well as letters of possession for the units, during a ceremony at the Annotto Bay High School in St Mary on August 23.The 300 square feet, two bedroom houses, were provided through a partnership initiative involving Food for the Poor (FFP), which targeted people in the parish deemed worst affected by the hurricane.Junior Minister with responsibility for Housing, Dr Morais Guy, who spoke at the ceremony, said the units have been presented as “grants” to the beneficiaries. The dwellings, he outlined, comprise a living room, kitchen, and bathroom; a solar panel to provide power; a water tank; a sewage disposal treatment system; and a lot that allows for future expansion. The occupants have also been provided with the first full tank of water courtesy of the Ministry’s Rapid Response Unit. Dr Guy explained that while the lots will be subject to lease arrangements “over a time, and after that, you will have the option to purchase (them).” The Minister advised that allocation of the houses is in addition to grants awarded to the beneficiaries to repairs the houses they previously occupied, that sustained partially damage.Dr Guy said presentation of the houses represents a “major milestone” and prospects for a brighter and more prosperous future for the recipients.“We are cognizant that lives can be transformed through initiatives such as this one; and it is for that reason, among others, that we did not hesitate to get the project off the ground,” he said.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here



22 St Mary Hurricane Sandy victims receive houses

Friday, August 9, 2013

HMS Lancaster to bolster hurricane relief efforts

SHOULD a hurricane strike between now and December, Jamaicans can be assured that the island’s disaster relief efforts will be bolstered by the HMS Lancaster, the British naval ship that is currently patrolling Caribbean waters and helping with the fight against narco-trafficking.

Forecasters have predicted an above-average 2013 hurricane season, which began on June 1 and ends November 30. And, despite a lowering of the outlook at the beginning of August, they said the remainder of the season could see up to 14 named storms, eight of which should develop into hurricanes, with three becoming major systems — meaning that they will be category three or stronger.Already, the season has seen four storms in Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dorian.Last Friday, during a press tour of the vessel while it docked at the Kingston Harbour, officer-of-the-watch Lieutenant Oliver Beckler told journalists that the 400ft by 25ft frigate carries around a capable team consisting of engineers, medics, fire-fighters and logistics personnel.“In the event of hurricanes, the team will be in close proximity,” he said.The team will assist with disaster relief and humanitarian services such as providing para-medical assistance, search-and- rescue missions and engineering tasks.He said that the team will also be able to help people in communities that are marooned — distributing food and undertaking emergency rescue missions — with the use of the Lynx helicopter on board.The vessel was deployed to the Caribbean in May and will be in the territory until December.Prior to visiting Jamaica, the frigate visited Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Monsterrat. While in Anguilla, the team assisted the Royal Anguilla Police Force in a drug bust.When the frigate leaves the Caribbean in December, a similar vessel — the RFA Wave Knight — will be assigned to the region.The HMS Lancaster left Kingston Harbour on Monday en route to Puerto Rico.Lieutenant Oliver Beckler points to the Lynx helicopter as he addresses journalists on board the HMS Lancaster as it docked at the Kingston Harbour last Friday. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

View the original article here



HMS Lancaster to bolster hurricane relief efforts