DATE ISSUED: Thursday, August 27, 2015 TIME ISSUED: 05:30 AM
…TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN…
…ERIKA A LITTLE STRONGER…CENTER PASSING BETWEEN GUADELOUPE AND ANTIGUA…
Location: Lat. 16.8N ….Lon. 61.5W
About: 112 miles SE of St. Maarten
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph ….85 KM/H
Present Movement: W…280 degrees at 16 mph
Minimum Central Pressure: 1003 mb….29.62 inches
DISCUSSION AND 24-HOUR OUTLOOK AT 05:00 AM…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERIKA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.8 NORTH…LONGITUDE 61.5 WEST OR ABOUT 112 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST. MAARTEN. ERIKA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MPH.
A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWESTWARD IS FORECAST LATER TODAY AND THIS GENERAL MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH…85 KM/H…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES (165 KM) PRIMARILY TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1003 MB…29.62 INCHES. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF ERIKA WILL MOVE NEAR OR OVER PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS THIS MORNING.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND AND SEA
WIND:
Tropical storm force winds are expected to spread across the warning area in the Leeward Islands this morning.
RAINFALL:
Erika is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches across portions of the Leeward Islands through Saturday.
STORM SURGE/WAVES:
Erika expected to produce waves up to 13 feet near the center of the Storm as it approaches the Northern Leeward Islands. Some coastal flooding and beach erosion is possible to as the storm passes its nearest to St. Maarten.
ALL CITIZENS/ RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT AND MAKE PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY AND BE READY TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION WHEN CALLED UPON.
THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR TROPICAL STORM ERIKA AND ISSUE SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETINS.
The next update will be issued today at 08:30 Lst (12:30 UTC).
