...KIRK NEARING THE LESSER ANTILLES...
DATE ISSUED: Thursday, September 27, 2018 TIME ISSUED: 11:15 AM
Location: Lat. 13.8 N ....Lon. 59.3 W
About: 380 miles SE of St. Maarten
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph ....85 KM/H
Present Movement: WNW...290 degrees at 15 mph…24 KM/H
Minimum Central Pressure: 999 mb....29.50 inches
DISCUSSION AND 24-HOUR OUTLOOK
AT 11:00 AM...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KIRK WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 59.3 WEST OR ABOUT 380 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST. MAARTEN.
KIRK IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH (24 KM/H)…THIS MOTION WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF KIRK WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LESSER ANTILLES BY THIS EVENING.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH (85 KM/H)…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS BUT KIRK IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE LESSER ANTILLES AS A TROPICAL STORM.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON KIRK WILL MAKE ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO ST MAARTEN PASSING 210 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE ISLAND.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES (220 KM).
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 999 MB….29.50 INCHES
POTENTIAL IMPACTS:
Rainfall: As Kirk approaches the Windward Islands it has the potential of producing up to 2 inches of rain across St Maarten. Showers and possible isolated thunderstorms could be expected Thursday night through Friday. Flooding is possible in areas prone to flooding as some of these showers may be heavy.
Winds: Winds are expected to become gusty Thursday night through Friday, with gusts of up to 30 kts/ 35 mph, after which winds are expected to gradually subside.
Seas: Sea conditions will continue to deteriorate with waves peaking near 11ft on Friday and will gradually subside through the weekend into early next week as Kirk moves farther away from the area.
THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR TROPICAL STORM KIRK AND KEEP YOU UPDATED.
