For the information of our members around the globe, you may not have heard about “Hurricane Erin” but this first hurricane of the season has had us on a knife’s edge here in Bermuda this past week.
Mr Weatherman showing mighty "Erin" hopefully brushing by Bermuda
Many of us here on Island no doubt follow “Mr. Weatherman”, Jim Cantore, the Meteorologist, who has a tremendous following both here and throughout the Caribbean with his first class weather forecasts, especially when forecasting major storms during hurricane season. Jim’s forecasts are always available on YouTube, and he’s had us glued to our seats this week as he’s been reporting on the progress of a frightening hurricane by any measure. He first reported on the potential of this particular system developing off the coast of Africa, and his initial reports proved to be spot on.
Just a few days ago “Erin” became a Cat 2 hurricane and this was followed by an upgrade in record time to Cat 5 with peak winds of 160mph which would be devastating to Islands in the West Indies, and of course, Bermuda. It was widely reported that not only had it become a Cat 5, but “Erin” was said to have the potential to double or triple in size! (judge for yourself from the above image)
Fortunately “Erin” brushed by the northern Caribbean Islands and is now travelling up “hurricane alley” between the US East Coast and Bermuda. Jim Cantore’s forecasts, based in large part on sophisticated international computer modelling, and his own expertise, have correctly predicted that “Erin” would not directly hit any land masses, and as of this writing (Wednesday 20th August 2025) he is predicting that based on the information he has at his disposal “Erin” will remain well offshore although we can expect storm force winds from the outer edges to brush by the Island, especially tomorrow and Friday.
Forecasting the paths of hurricanes in this highly technical age is a far cry from times such as when Hurricane Emily, “The Bitch who came for Breakfast” struck Bermuda on the morning of 25th September, 1987, with almost no warning until a couple of hours before she arrived, and did substantial damage despite only being a Cat 1 Hurricane. And wasn’t it the remnants of Hurricane Emily that crossed the Atlantic and mixed with other fronts to create The Great Storm of 1987 which struck southern England almost without warning and downed some 17 million trees, including 6 of the 7 oak trees in the English town of Seven Oaks!
To our friends around the world, if you hear of potential hurricanes threatening Bermuda you always have the option of checking out “Mr. Weatherman” on YouTube to see What’s Happnin’!