Hurricane Earl strengthens as new storm forms off Barbados

UPDATED: August 31, 2010 – 9:05am Bridgetown Barbados

Analysts predict Earl might go Cat 5

As of this writing, The US National Hurricane Center website is down. Probably too much traffic.

Drudge Report and Storm Pulse say it’s looking to go Category 5.

Original story…

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Is it prayer or wind patterns that keeps Barbados safe from hurricanes?

Hurricane Earl will make for wet Bajan weather for the next couple of days, but our neighbours to the North are taking quite a hit. The US National Hurricane Center says Earl is growing stronger, but the predicted track shows it veering off into the Atlantic well off the eastern USA.

The good news for Barbados is that once again a hurricane missed our home. The bad news is that another storm is forming to the east and there is an 80% chance it will grow into a named storm within 48 hours.

It’s easy for Barbadians to become lulled into a false sense of security because we’ve been lucky or blessed for a long time as far as major hurricanes go.

So say a little prayer, but check your shutters and your emergency supplies too!

Visit Barbados’ Department of Emergency Management website for advice and a list of shelters.