DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, September 17, 2019 @12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) September 18, 2019
……A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL 6PM WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2019……
WEATHER:
Today through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy and hazy with brief isolated showers possible.
Forecast High: 33°C / 91°F Forecast Low: 28°C / 82°F
Sunset Today: 6:13 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:01 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS:
Today through Wednesday midday: East to east southeast with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph and higher gusts possible.
SYNOPSIS:
Saharan dust will persist through the next couple days limiting significant precipitation across the local area. The east to southeasterly wind flow will cause high afternoon temperatures and the possibility of a passing shower.
Long period northerly swells are expected to affect local waters until Wednesday as a result a small craft advisory is in effect for St. Maarten.
Small craft operators and sea bathers are advised to exercise caution
STATE OF THE SEA: Moderate to rough WAVES/SWELLS: 6 to 9 feet
SPECIAL FEATURES:
At 11:00 am today, Tropical Depression Ten formed over the tropical Atlantic.
The center of Tropical Depression Ten was located near latitude 12.9 North, longitude 44.9 West, or about 1260 miles east southeast of St. Maarten. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h). A west-northwestward motion at a somewhat faster forward speed is expected over the next few days.
On the forecast track, the system will approach the northern Leeward Islands Thursday night or Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today. The system is forecast become a hurricane by the time it approaches the northern Leeward Island.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).
The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten will continue to monitor the progress of this system and update the public accordingly.
OUTLOOK through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with showers and possible isolated thunderstorm.
FORECASTER: Leblanc
