Hurricane Larry Producing Seas of Up to 45 Feet in Western Atlantic

Hurricane Larry continues to be a large and powerful Category 2 hurricane that is producing dangerous swells along western Atlantic coasts and seas of up to 45 feet.

At 11 a.m. AST, the center of Hurricane Larry was located over the central Atlantic Ocean about 500 miles (805 km) southeast of Bermuda, according to the NWS National Hurricane Center. Larry is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through today, the NHC said.

Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts, making Larry a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km).

Swells generated by Larry will continue to affect the Leeward Islands, portions of the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas through midweek, and impact Bermuda through the end of the week. Significant swells from Larry are expected to reach the east coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada on Wednesday and continue affecting these shores through the end of the week.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Bermuda. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Bermuda beginning Wednesday night or early Thursday.

The NWS Ocean Prediction Center’s sea-state analysis for 12:00 UTC today showed significant wave heights of 13 meters (~43 feet) associated with the storm. Its 24-hour forecast is calling for seas of up to 45 feet and up to 46 feet within the next 48 hours before slowly diminishing.