Humberto strengthens into a Category 3 hurricane

Humberto has been given major hurricane status and is causing sustained winds of 115mph (185kph). The system lashed already-devastated parts of the Bahamas with heavy rain and strong winds on the weekend, while Bermuda is expected to be affected on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hurricane Humberto strengthened to a major Category 3 storm on Tuesday and was expected to pass near Bermuda, threatening it with dangerous waves and heavy rain, the US National Hurricane Center said.

“Hurricane conditions are expected to reach Bermuda by Wednesday night and continue into early Thursday morning,” the Miami-based NHC said.

“Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or so, but Humberto should remain a powerful hurricane through Thursday,” it said.

As of 8:00 pm (0000 GMT), the storm had maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185 kilometers per hour) and was moving east-northeast at 12 miles per hour.