Katia Strengthens Further In West Atlantic

Becomes First Category Four Hurricane Of 2011 Season

Earlier tonight, Hurricaneville had posted an article in the blog on Hurricane Katia strengthening to become the season’s second major hurricane in the Atlantic. Since that time, it has intensified further. The storm is now the first Category Four system of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Still out over the open waters of the Western Atlantic, Katia continued to deepen during the evening hours. Now located some 450 miles to the South of Bermuda, and moving to the Northwest at 10 miles per hour, Katia now has maximum sustained winds of 135 miles per hour, and gusts in excess of 160 miles per hour. Minimum central pressure has dipped to 946 millibars or 27.94 inches of Hg. The eye of the storm is still well defined at 25 miles in diameter. Hurricane force winds still extend some 60 miles from the eye while tropical storm force winds reach out some 205 miles.

The storm has a solid core, and good outflow although it still appears ragged on the northern and western side. Since Saturday night, when it weakened to a tropical storm with 70 mile per hour winds and a minimum central pressure of 992 millibars, or 29.29 inches of Hg, the storm has rapidly intensified with a 46 mb drop in 48 hours. One thing to keep in mind, all of the latest data on the storm is based upon interpretation of satellite imagery. No reconnaissance aircraft has been able to fly into the storm. No further strengthening is expected with the storm according to the latest forecast discussion.

However, Katia continues to be in a very favorable environment for further development. So until it reaches cooler waters and encounters more hostile upper level conditions, it is possible that the storm could strengthen further. The forecast track is becoming more and more certain. The models are coming together and becoming more confident on a track between Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States by later in the week. Nevertheless, the storm is still going to create large swells, dangerous surf, and rip currents along much of the East Coast of the United States.