DATE ISSUED: Thursday, July 01, 2021 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) July 02, 2021
…A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…
WEATHER:
This afternoon through tonight: Partly cloudy, breezy, slightly hazy, and brief showers possible.
Friday morning through midday: Partly cloudy, slightly hazy, and breezy with passing showers and possible isolated thunderstorms.
Forecast High: 31°C / 88°F Forecast Low: 23°C / 73°F
Sunset Today: 6:52 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:40 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS:
This afternoon through Friday midday: East-northeast to east with a gentle to fresh breeze of 12 to 24 mph and higher gusts.
SYNOPSIS:
Dry and dusty air mass moving into the northeastern Caribbean will aid in restricting precipitation across the local area as a tropical wave continues to move away. Tomorrow moisture associated with Tropical Elsa passing south of the region is forecast to be transported across the local area by the brisk wind flow. Consequently, a few passing showers and thunderstorms will become possible.
Marine conditions are predicted to deteriorate. A small craft advisory is in effect for St. Maarten, and seas up to 10 are expected from Friday night. Small craft operators and sea bathers are advised to exercise caution.
STATE OF THE SEA: Moderate to Rough WAVES/SWELLS: 6 to 8 feet
SPECIAL FEATURES:
At 11am, Tropical Storm Elsa was located approximately 955 miles southeast of St. Maarten. Maximum sustained winds have further increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure of Tropical Storm Elsa remains at 1006 mb (29.71 inches). On the forecast track, the system will pass near or over portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday, move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late Friday and Friday night.
TROPICAL STORM ELSA DOES NOT POSE A DIRECT THREAT TO ST. MAARTEN. THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF ST. MAARTEN WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SYSTEM AND UPDATE THE PUBLIC ACCORDINGLY.
OUTLOOK through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy and windy with isolated showers.
FORECASTER: Gordon
