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Posted At: September 10, 2006 @ 10:59 AM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

Florence was upgraded to a hurricane by the 11 am EDT NHC update, with sustained winds of 80 mph and an estimated central pressure of 976 mb.  A hurricane hunter aircraft was set to investigate the system at 1800 UTC, so we will soon see how accurate these estimations are.  Despite having an impressive satellite presentation for the last few days, Florence intensified VERY slowly and remained a tropical storm with an elongated center of circulation.  Even though the cloud tops have warmed slightly overnight, the center of Florence became better defined with a large eye appearing on satellite, hence the NHC upgraded the cyclone to hurricane strength. 

Hurricane Florence is expected to strengthen to a strong category 2 hurricane before passing just to the west of Bermuda, with forecast sustained winds of 95 knots!  Also, Bermuda will likely be in the right eyewall of the hurricane, which is where the strongest winds and storm surge will be located.  Florence is a very large tropical cyclone, with tropical storm force winds already impacting Bermuda as of Sunday morning!  A 46 mph wind gust was reported at the south tip of the island this morning.  Shown below are satellite images of Florence, along with the 11 am forecast track of the NHC.