Hurricane Noel Dumps Torrential Rains on the Bahamas

As of 8 p.m. Friday night a hurricane watch remained in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas, but the watch and warning was reportedly going to be discontinued on Sunday night.

A gale warning remained in effect for Bermuda. The center of the recently upgraded hurricane was located 115 miles north-northeast of Nassau in the Bahamas and about 810 miles west-southwest of Bermuda.

Maximum sustained winds had increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts, meaning Noel is now a Category One storm. However, it is expected to lose tropical characteristics within the next 24 hours.