(CNN) — Franklin, which became the first major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) of the Atlantic hurricane season on Monday morning, has continued to strengthen and is now a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 200 km/h.
Air Force hurricane hunters flying the storm reported data indicating strengthening to a Category 4, leading to a special update from the National Hurricane Center at 7:35 a.m. EDT.
Franklin experienced “rapid intensification” in the 24 hours between Sunday morning and Monday morning, moving from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 90 mph. It is the second round of fast intensification, meaning the storm has gusts of 56 km/h or more in 24 hours, after increasing to 50 to 85 km/h from Friday to Saturday.
Climate change is one of the main reasons for worsening the impact of hurricanes, as warmer water allows storms to strengthen more quickly. Atlantic Ocean temperatures are headed for record-warming levels for much of 2023.
Hurricane Franklin is currently 650 kilometers north of the Turks and Caicos Islands and 800 kilometers southwest of Bermuda.
Hurricane Franklin’s forecast track takes the storm between the East Coast of the United States and Bermuda before turning east and passing north of Bermuda.
No watches or warnings are in effect for the storm, although both Bermuda and the US East Coast will see rough seas from the storm, which will threaten life-threatening surf and rip currents for the next few days.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to quickly become a second major hurricane after rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico over the next day or two. The second major hurricane in the Atlantic basin does not form until September 19, on average.
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