WHCA31 TAPA
TROPICAL STORM MARIA WATCH STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
5:42 PM ECT SAT, SEP 16, 2017
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS
….DEPRESSION BECOMES TROPICAL STORM MARIA….ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST…
The government of Antigua has issued a Hurricane Watch for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat
A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS AND THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS CONDITIONS COULD MAKE MAKE OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS.
AT 500 PM (2100 UTC), THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM MARIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 12.3 NORTH, LONGITUDE 52.6 WEST OR ABOUT 650 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS. MARIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 20 MPH (31 KM/H). A SLOWER WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, MARIA IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE LEEWARD ISLANDS ON MONDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH (85 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS, AND MARIA IS FORECAST TO BE A HURRICANE WHEN IT APPROACHES THE LEEWARD ISLANDS EARLY NEXT WEEK.
TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES (75 KM) FROM THE CENTER.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB (29.59 INCHES).
BASED UPON THE LATEST PREDICTED PATH, TROPICAL STORM MARIA COULD PASS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, MONTSERRAT AND ST. KITTS AND NEVIS ON TUESDAY AS A HURRICANE.
MARIA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 8 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES.
SWELLS GENERATED BY THE SYSTEM ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE LESSER ANTILLES BY SUNDAY NIGHT. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS. AS A RESULT MARINERS SHOULD BEGIN TO SAFEGUARD THEIR VESSELS.
ALL RESIDENTS IN THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF TROPICAL STORM MARIA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS LIKELY IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
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