Hurricane Franklin Reaches Category 3 Designation as it Churns Near Bermuda

Posted: August 29, 2023 9:45 am

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As was predicted by tropical weather experts over the weekend, Franklin became the first major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic season when it hit this benchmark on Monday. The storm is predicted to impact Bermuda shortly before setting its sights on Atlantic Canada. Here is the latest on this tropical weather threat that is spinning around in the Atlantic basin this week.

Hurricane Franklin Details

Franklin took the title for becoming the first major hurricane in the Atlantic this year on Monday morning. The powerful storm is forecast to bring rain and high winds to Bermuda in the coming days.

The feature strengthened into a hurricane on Saturday morning, becoming the second storm of this magnitude this year in the Atlantic. Franklin picked up steam throughout the weekend before reaching the status of a Category 3 storm at 5 am EDT Monday. A Category 3 hurricane is defined as a storm that boasts maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Experts with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) were able to spot a clearly defined eye on satellite images taken on Monday. The current projections indicate that Franklin will maintain its status as a Category 3 storm for some time as it slowly moves through the Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters with the NHC are also warning that Franklin could undergo the process of rapid intensification on Tuesday. Warm ocean waters in this part of the Atlantic pairing with little to no wind shear will work together to provide a fertile ground for further development over this time period.

Impacts to Bermuda

Hurricane Franklin is forecast to keep moving to the north-northeast, however, it is not expected to bring direct impacts to the U.S. It will be a different story for the islands of Bermuda. A direct strike on Bermuda is not likely but the region will see significant impacts as Franklin skirts past the islands. These impacts include high winds and rough surf conditions.

The worst of the rain and the wind will impact the island nation of Bermuda on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will not be a good time to try to swim in the waters in this area of the Atlantic. Peak wind gusts in Bermuda will top out at about 60 mph. This will be enough to potentially cause minor damage.

Potential Impacts to East Coast

The East Coast of the U.S. will likely dodge the worst of the impacts of Franklin. However, rough surf conditions and strong rip currents are in the forecast for the coastal areas on Tuesday and Wednesday despite the storm staying well offshore. Beachgoers should be prepared to face some beach closures due to the inclement swimming conditions.

In addition, tidal flooding is also a possibility along the East Coast. This will be particularly true during the middle of the week when the full Super Blue Moon exacerbates the tides.

After skirting past the East Coast, there is also the chance that Franklin could turn and impact parts of Atlantic Canada.

There has been no rest for hurricane watchers in the Atlantic over the last few days. Florida is now in the crosshairs of what is expected to be a major hurricane when Idalia continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico.

You will want to stay tuned to what is going on in the tropics this week as the statistical peak of the hurricane season inches closer. There is sure to be more activity that will develop in the coming weeks thanks to the favorable environmental conditions.

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