The Atlantic Stirs...

After an unusually quiet June and July with no tropical activity whatsoever, the Atlantic hurricane season has kick-started with two tropical storms, Ana and Bill. Ana was a relatively weak tropical storm and dissipated before reaching Hispaniola (the island that Haiti and the Dominican Republic share). Effects from the storm were negligible and Ana is no more a tropical system.

Bill, however, poses a threat for pilots and Bermuda. The season's first hurricane is also the first major hurricane, with winds exceeding 120 mph, making it a category 3 hurricane. Since in these systems the cloud tops can reach well above normal cruising altitudes for airliners, pilots are advised to avoid this area. This NOTAM specifically goes out for pilots making transatlantic flights, mainly those that cross into the Southern Hemisphere. Examples are North America-South America/Africa flights and Europe-South America flights.

Pilots planning flights for Bermuda are also asked to stay vigilant as Bill's projected path puts Bermuda inside it. Though the island may be spared a direct landfall, outer rain bands can be enough to bring hurricane force winds and torrential downpours.

For more information on Bill's projected path and conditions, please go to NOAA's National Hurricane Center.