Ophelia has become the 10th hurricane of the 2017 season as it continued to strengthen over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday posing no threat to land, the National Hurricane Center said in an update today.
The NHC upgraded Ophelia to a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph as of its 5 p.m. ET update. Ophelia is centered over the far eastern Atlantic Ocean about 760 miles southwest of the Azores and moving toward the east near 3 mph, according to the NHC. “A slow northeast drift is expected tonight and tomorrow, followed by an acceleration toward the east-northeast or northeast,” the update said.
Ophelia is now the tenth hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, five of which grew into major hurricanes (category 3 or greater). In total, there have now been 15 named storms.
In May, NOAA predicted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with 11 to 17 named storms, 5 to 9 hurricanes and 2 to 4 major hurricanes.
In August, however, NOAA predicted a higher likelihood of an above-normal season, and they increased the predicted number of named storms and major hurricanes. The upgraded outlook calls for 14 to 19 named storms, 5 to 9 hurricanes, and 2 to 5 major hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,193 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) On a crisp morning that should have promised smooth sailing, Captain Mike Vinik found himself staring at a maze of steel and concrete where open water used...
by Sachin Ravikumar (Reuters) Immigration tops the list of issues that Britons consider most important for the first time since 2016 – when Britain voted to leave the European Union...
New York Maritime College’s new training ship, Empire State VII, is canceling its planned European port visits during its maiden summer cruise and returning to the western Atlantic. The decision...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,193 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
