Flights cancelled as Hurricane Franklin moves closer towards Bermuda
HAMILTON, Bermuda, (CMC) – All United Airlines and American Airlines flights into Bermuda have been cancelled as Hurricane Franklin, the country’s first major storm for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season, moves closer towards the British Overseas Territory on Wednesday.
“Officials at Skyport can now confirm that Air Canada has cancelled its scheduled inbound and outbound flights between Toronto and Bermuda for Wednesday, August 30, as a result of expected weather conditions,” Skyport said.
“Skyport advised other passengers booked to monitor flight status and examine rebooking options if needed,” Skyport added as it announced that all United Airlines and American Airlines flights scheduled for Wednesday had been cancelled.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its 5:00 am bulletin described Franklin as a large hurricane, adding that tropical storm conditions are expected in Bermuda later today.
It said that the hurricane is located about 205 miles west-northwest of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour.
A Tropical Storm Warning has gone into effect for Bermuda and the NHC said that the centre of Hurricane Franklin was located near latitude 33.0 North, longitude 68.2 West.
“Franklin is moving towards the northeast near 13 mph and this motion is expected to continue today. On Thursday, Franklin is forecast to turn toward the east-northeast. On the forecast track, the centre of Franklin is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda later today,” the NHC said.
The NHC said that while the maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 110 mph with higher gusts, additional weakening is forecast over the next several days.
But it warned that hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
The NHC said that life-threatening surf and rip currents generated by Franklin are already affecting Bermuda and the east coast of the United States. These conditions are expected to continue during the next several days.
“Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach Bermuda this morning, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous,” it added.
