Hurricane Bill Churns Deadly Surf

Hurricane Bill can clearly be seen spinning off the coast of New England, toward Nova Scotia.

Hurricane Bill became the season’s first hurricane in the Atlantic basin after forming from an area of disturbed weather to the southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

The storm attained Category 4 strength as it neared Puerto Rico and the Windward Islands, but veered to the northeast and remained over open waters, sparing those islands a direct hit.

High surf generated by the storm destroyed seaside homes in the Dominican Republic’s northern provinces of Puerto Plata and Maria Trinidad Sanchez, according to local reports.

Bill then passed about midway between Bermuda and the eastern seaboard of the United States before weakening over the Canadian Maritime provinces.

A rogue wave churned up by the storm swept seven people into the ocean at Acadia National Park, near Bar Harbor, killing a young girl.

Hundreds of spectators had gathered to watch the turbulent ocean waters whipped up by passing Hurricane Bill.

Of the seven people washed out to sea, four managed to swim to safety and rescuers were able to save the others except for 7-year-old Clio Dahyun Axilrod.

Tropical Storm Bill Track

Satellite Loop Data: CIMSS