NORTH AMERICA

Bermuda (Security threat level – 1): As of 0800 local time (1200 UTC) on 8 September 2022, Hurricane Earl — a Category 2 storm — was located approximately 425 km (265 mi) south of Bermuda and was moving north at a speed of 16 kph (10 mph). At that time, Earl had maximum sustained winds of 165 kph with higher gusts, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane later in the day as it continues northward and passes southeast of Bermuda before turning toward the north-northeast during the evening hours. Earl is expected to produce 25-50 mm (1-2 in) of rain across Bermuda until 9 September, generating hazardous surf and riptide conditions along the island’s coastline. A Tropical Storm Warning, as well as a Hurricane Watch, is currently in effect for Bermuda.

Canada (Security threat level – 2): In the late afternoon hours of 7 September 2022, a man wielding a bladed weapon randomly attacked people in the northeastern Homesteader neighborhood of Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta. The assailant killed one person and seriously wounded two others. Police officers arrested the suspect shortly after the attack and have yet to release information regarding his motive.

Mexico / United States (Security threat levels – 4 / 2): As of 0600 local time (1200 UTC) on 8 September 2022, Hurricane Kay — which has weakened into a Category 1 storm — was located approximately 135 km (85 mi) west of the cape of Cabo San Lazaro, Baja California Sur state, and about 340 km south-southeast of the Punta Eugenia peninsula. At that time, Kay was moving north-northwest at a speed of 22 kph (14 mph) and had maximum sustained winds of 140 kph with higher gusts, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Kay is expected to continue to weaken near or over Baja California Peninsula’s west-central coastline during the evening of 8 September.

A Hurricane Warning is currently in effect for areas located north from the town of Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur state, to the locality of San Jose De Las Palomas in Baja California state, while a Hurricane Watch is in effect from the municipality of Puerto Cortes in Baja California Sur state to Punta Abreojos. Approximately 150 mm to 255 mm (6 to 10 in) of rain is expected in the Baja California Peninsula, with isolated maximums of up to 380 mm. Additionally, 50 to 100 mm of rain is expected in northwestern Mexico and the southern areas of the U.S. state of California.

United States (Security threat level – 2): On 7 September 2022, a gunman went on a shooting spree for several hours in the U.S. city of Memphis, Tennessee. The assailant drove a vehicle across the city while shooting people at random at seven different sites as he livestreamed his actions on social media. He also hijacked a vehicle during the evening hours after abandoning his own. The attacker killed four people and wounded three others. Police officers launched a pursuit and advised residents in the city to shelter in place. The Memphis Area Transit Authority temporarily suspended bus and trolley services during the police pursuit. Authorities arrested the gunman in the southern Whitehaven neighborhood shortly after 2100 local time (0200 UTC on 8 September). While the motive for the shooting rampage is currently under investigation, the detainee has an extensive criminal history and was released from prison earlier this year.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

China (Security threat level – 4): On 8 September 2022, the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau issued a Health Alert, which reads in part as follows: “The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau urges U.S. citizens to reconsider transiting Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) due to the risk of being denied boarding, removed from the airport, and sent to a Hong Kong government-managed facility if local authorities determine you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID while in transit.

“The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau has been made aware that transit and departing passengers at HKIA are being temperature screened by local authorities. If a passenger registers an elevated temperature, they will be pulled out of the transit/boarding process and sent to a local hospital for COVID testing and to a government-managed isolation facility if they test positive. There have been several incidents where passengers transiting through Hong Kong International Airport have been denied boarding to their onward flight, removed from the airport, and sent to a Hong Kong government-managed isolation facility after undergoing temperature screening while in transit.”

The full text of the alert is available here.