THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE IRMA LOCATED ABOUT 945 MILES EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.
IRMA HAS ONCE AGAIN RETURNED TO CATEGORY 3 STATUS WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 115 MPH AND IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN FURTHER.
BASED ON THE LATEST INFORMATION, IRMA IS MOVING WESTSOUTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH, AND THIS MOTION AT A SLIGHTLY SLOWER FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT. A TURN TOWARDS THE WEST IS FORECAST ON MONDAY.
IF IRMA HOLDS CLOSELY TO THE FORECAST TRACK, THE ISLANDS WILL BE SPARED MOST OF THE DANGEROUS WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, IF AFTER TURNING WEST-SOUTHWEST IT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST TRACK, VERY HAZARDOUS WEATHER WILL IMPACT THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY.
TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY AND MONDAY RESPECTIVELY.
RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR IRMA AND BE PREPARED TO EXECUTE THEIR HURRICANE PLANS IF A WARNING IS REQUIRED ON MONDAY.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA MET. SERVICE