The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has upgraded Tropical Storm Gert to hurricane status, making it the second hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season.vAt 11:00pm ET, the center of Hurricane Gert was located near latitude 31.2 North, longitude 72.3 West. Gert is moving toward the north near 8 mph and the NHC expects a turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed late Tuesday or Tuesday night. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph, with some higher gusts. The NHC is forecasting some strengthening during the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 986 mb (29.12 inches).
Gert is forecast to pass between the US East Coast and Bermuda; while a direct hit is not expected, an indirect hit with rough surf and swells is. Swells generated by Gert will spread northward along the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward to Long Island during the next couple of days. Swells are also expected to affect Bermuda during the next couple of days. These swells and rough seas will produce rip current conditions along much of the US East Coast; everyone should exercise extreme caution if entering the Atlantic Ocean and follow the guidance and posted signs/flags by local officials and lifeguards.
