VOA News | Monday, August 28, 2023 
Hurricane Franklin Gains Strength, Takes Aim at Bermuda — US NHC

Hurricane Franklin is forecast to become the Atlantic’s first major hurricane of the season on Monday and is on track to pass close to Bermuda on Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday. At around 5 p.m. Eastern time, Franklin was about 855 kilometers (535 miles) southwest of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds nearing 155 kph (100 mph), the Miami-based center said in an advisory. “Additional strengthening is forecast, and Franklin is forecast to become a major hurricane on Monday,” the advisory said. A tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of above 177 kph (110 mph) or higher is considered a major hurricane. Franklin is expected turn away from the U.S. Eastern Seaboard in the early part of the week but pass near the island of Bermuda on Wednesday, an NHC map shows. The NHC said swells generated by Franklin were expected to begin affecting Bermuda on Sunday night. “These swells are also likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through the…Read more