Hurricane Nigel expected to ‘rapidly intensify’ and become major storm by Tuesday: Latest tracker

Hurricane Nigel is forecast to ‘rapidly intensify’ to become a Category 3 hurricane

Hurricane Nigel to rapidly intensify

Hurricane Nigel has strengthened slightly overnight and is set to intensify further, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Nigel, the sixth hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean this season, developed into a Category 1 storm yesterday and was forecast to “rapidly intensify” to become a Category 3 hurricane.

At the moment, Nigel has sustained winds of 80mph (130kph) but forecasters in the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Hurricane Center expect the storm to have sustained winds of at least 111mph as it grows.

Nigel was located approximately about 875miles (1,410km) east-southeast of Bermuda and was moving northwest at a speed of 12mph (19kph).

The hurricane is not expected to make landfall and no warnings or watches have been issued.

As of now, the National Hurricane Center predicts Nigel will veer off right into the open Atlantic Ocean by Wednesday morning.

Nigel developed shortly after Hurricane Lee landed in Nova Scotia as a post-tropical storm.

Key Points

• National Hurricane Center expects Hurricane Nigel to ‘rapidly intensify’
• Hurricane Nigel’s expected path
• Spaghetti models of Hurricane Nigel
• Why are so many hurricanes ‘rapidly intensifying’ ?

[18 September 2023 18:00 · Ariana Baio]

Hurricanes are getting stronger. Here’s why

As the global average temperature increases and sea levels rise, tropical cyclones - the catch-all term for hurricanes and typhoons - are expected to become stronger and the damage more catastrophic, scientists say.

Ethan Freedman and Louise Boyle report:

[18 September 2023 18:40 · Ariana Baio]

National Hurricane Center says no warnings in effect

In their latest update on Hurricane Nigel, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the location of the storm does not affect land.

As of 11am ET on Monday, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect regarding Hurricane Nigel.

Though it is currently a Category 1 and expected to rapidly intensify, the storm’s expect path is to remain in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

[18 September 2023 19:15 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Timelapse of Nigel going from tropical depression to hurricane

[18 September 2023 20:00 · Ariana Baio]

Why destructive hurricanes often start with the letter ‘I’

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issues alphabetical lists of names to label hurricanes each year - one for each of the world’s three oceanic regions.

Faiza Saqib reports:

[18 September 2023 21:00 · Ariana Baio]

How are hurricanes classified?

When a tropical depression reaches sustained winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour it is officially classified as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

After that, hurricanes can reach up to a Category 5 depending on its sustained winds, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Category 1 – Winds of 74 to 95 mph. “Very dangerous winds will produce some damage.”

Category 2 – Winds of 96 to 110 mph. “Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage.”

Category 3 – Winds of 111 to 129 mph. “Devastating damage with occur.”

Category 4 – Winds of 130 to 156 mph. “Catastrophic damage will occur.”

Category 5 – Winds of 157 mph or higher. “Catastrophic damage will occur.”

[18 September 2023 22:00 · Ariana Baio]

Hurricane Nigel may weaken on Wednesday

The National Hurricane Center predicted Hurricane Nigel to potentially weaken after becoming a major hurricane on Wednesday.

“Nigel is forecast to rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane on Tuesday,” the NHC wrote in an advisory on Monday afternoon.

They added: “A gradual weakening trend could start on Wednesday.”

[18 September 2023 23:00 · Ariana Baio]

Hurricane Nigel approximately 800 miles from Bermuda

Hurricane Nigel is currently picking up speeds in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

As of Monday afternoon, the storm is about 810 miles from Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center said.

With sustained winds of 80 mph, Nigel is a Category 1 hurricane – though it is expected to rapidly intensify to a Category 3 by Tuesday.

No warnings or watches have been issued as of Monday afternoon.

[19 September 2023 01:00 · Ariana Baio]

Where did Hurricane Lee end up?

On Saturday, the storm was downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone.

Kelly Rissman reports:

[19 September 2023 03:00 · Ariana Baio]

Hurricane wind speed possibility

The National Hurricane Center’s hurricane wind speed possibility outlook as of 18 September (National Hurricane Center)

[19 September 2023 05:00 · Ariana Baio]

Hurricane Nigel has ‘somewhat ragged-looking eye'

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) described Hurricane Nigel as having a “somewhat ragged-looking eye” as of Monday afternoon.

“Nigel is exhibiting a somewhat ragged-looking eye on satellite imagery, surrounded by bands of very deep convection with cloud tops to -80 deg C. High-level outflow has become a bit restricted over the northeastern quadrant of the circulation, but overall the system continues to become better organized. “

Hurricane Nigel as of 1:50pm ET on 18 September 2023 (GEOCOLOR / National Hurricane Center)