DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) September 26, 2019
…A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL 6 PM TODAY…
WEATHER:
This afternoon through Thursday midday: Generally cloudy and breezy with showers that may become moderate to heavy at times, and possible thunderstorms.
Forecast High: 30°C / 86°F Forecast Low: 25°C / 77°F
Sunset Today: 6:06 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:02 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS:
This afternoon through Thursday midday: Southerly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 18 mph and higher gusts. Becoming lighter and variable from tonight.
SYNOPSIS:
Moisture and instability associated with the outer bands of Tropical Storm Karen will account for cloudiness, showers and possible isolated thunderstorms across the region. Showers can become moderate to heavy at times. There is the possibility of rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches through Wednesday. Therefore, residents and users of areas prone to flooding and landslide are advised to be vigilant.
Marine conditions will gradually improve as Tropical Storm Karen continues to move further away. Moderate to occasionally rough waves up to 7 feet are expected. Therefore, a small craft advisory remains in effect for St. Maarten until this evening. Small craft operators should exercise extreme caution and sea-bathers are advised to stay away from the sea.
STATE OF THE SEA: Moderate to occasionally rough
WAVES/SWELLS: 5 to 7 feet
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. At 11:00 am, the center of Tropical Storm Karen was located near latitude 21.7 north, longitude 64.9 west or about 280 miles north-northwest of St. Maarten.
Karen is moving toward the north near 15 mph (24 km/h). A north-northeastward to northeastward motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected through early Friday. Karen is then expected to slow down and make a clockwise loop over the southwestern Atlantic into the weekend.
On the forecast track, the center of Karen will move from away from St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today through Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center.
The minimum central pressure reported is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).
- Lorenzo became the fifth Atlantic hurricane of the season.
At 11:00 am, the center of Tropical Storm Lorenzo was located near 14.1N 35.1W or about 1875 miles east-southeast of St. Maarten, moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h). A turn toward the northwest is expected late Thursday or Thursday night.
Maximum sustained have increased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast and Lorenzo is expected to become a Major hurricane by tomorrow.
At its closest point, the center of the Lorenzo should pass well over 1000 miles northeast of St. Maarten on Sunday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 983 mb (29.03 inches).
The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten will continue to monitor the update the public accordingly.
OUTLOOK through Friday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers.
FORECASTER: Gordon
