Hurricane Katia is unlikely to affect Bermuda flights

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: Flights between Bermuda and the US are unlikely to be cancelled as a result of Hurricane Katia — despite the fact that the Category 1 storm is passing directly between the two countries.

Commercial airliners can re-route around major hurricanes raging out at sea, experts say.

Dr Jeff Masters of US based extreme weather service, Weather Underground, said storms were only a serious problem for planes when they affected airports.

“There are not going to be any flights cancelled because of Katia,” he said.

“I don’t think this one is going to cause too many problems for anyone.

Storm surge

“The main impact will be in terms of storm surge and rip currents on the coast.”

He said pilots could easily pick their way around hurricanes.

“It might mean a few delays as airlines route around the storm. Unless you are a Hurricane Hunter pilot you are going to give it a wide berth.”

Dr Masters, who used to fly Hurricane Hunter aircraft which track and photograph major storms, said both the US and Bermuda had ‘dodged a bullet’ with Katia. But he said it was not unusual for storms to follow that track.

Ian MacIntyre, stand-in manager at the LF Wade airport in Bermuda, said staff would be monitoring the situation closely.

He did not rule out the possibility of flights being cancelled but said it was unlikely based on the current forecast.

He said it was the conditions at the airport, rather than on the usual flight path of the planes, that made the biggest difference.

“ Modern aircraft are equipped with weather radar in the nose of the planes so they can paint a picture of the conditions ahead of them and pick their way around a storm.

“A hurricane is generally more likely to cause damage on the ground or to shipping than to aircraft.”

He said there was always the possibility of cancellations if strong winds or heavy rain associated with the storm affected conditions at landing or take-off.

“We will keep watch to see how strong those winds are going to be, the direction of any sustained winds from peripheral bands outside the direct eye of the storm.”

The current forecast is for winds of up to 30 knots to affect the island today and Thursday.