Bill weakens to cat 3 as it heads for Bermuda

(CNS): The first hurricane of the Atlantic season which had reached category four status in a matter of a few days of its formation has now dropped back to a three as it heads on a northward path through the Atlantic. However, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami has warned the storm is likely to strengthen again and become a category four storm today or tomorrow.

At 5:00 am AST Bill was located about 790 miles south-southeast of Bermuda where a hurricane or tropical storm watch will likely be put in place required later this morning. Bill is moving toward the northwest at around 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and higher gusts.  The NHC said that a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft is currently investigating the condition of Bill.

With Hurricane force winds extending outward up to 85 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds some 230 miles Bill is a large hurricane and swells associated with it will be impacting the islands of the northeast Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas as well as Bermuda. NHC also predicted that large swells associated with Bill will also affect portions of the east coast of the United States this weekend.