Hurricane Earl threatens Bermuda and could bring ‘life-threatening surf’ to the US East Coast

By Holly Yan and Christina Maxouris, CNN

Hurricane Earl is on the brink of turning into a major hurricane, threatening Bermuda with ferocious winds Thursday evening.

“Hurricane conditions are possible on Bermuda overnight,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon.

Swells generated by Earl have been building near Bermuda and are expected to reach the US East Coast later Thursday, forecasters said.

“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through the weekend,” the National Hurricane Center said.

In a post on Twitter, the National Weather Service for Boston said Thursday, “Be aware of increasing swells and rip currents come this weekend.” In Wilmington, North Carolina, weather officials warned powerful swells from the hurricane will impact the area through at least Sunday and could lead to “rough surf and minor coastal flooding.”

As of 5 p.m. ET Thursday, Hurricane Earl was centered about 140 miles (225 kilometers) south of Bermuda, according to the center. The cyclone was headed north-northeast at 16 mph (26 kilometers per hour).

It hurled maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, which will likely intensify — and its wind gusts were even stronger, the center said.

Earl is expected to further accelerate Thursday night and make a more northeastward turn Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. It’s also growing larger, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 60 miles (95 kilometers) from its center, the hurricane center said.

“Earl could become a major hurricane by tomorrow,” it added. “Thereafter, some weakening and transition into a powerful extratropical cyclone is forecast on Saturday.”

A “major hurricane” is one that has maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

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CNN’s Judson Jones contributed to this report.