Published 27 September, 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
HURRICANE SAM ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 12:05 PM ECT MON, SEP 27, 2021
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT MEANS THAT, IN THIS CASE, A HURRICANE IS IN OUR MONITORED AREA BUT WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME
BASED ON CURRENT INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS, HURRICANE SAM IS STILL EXPECTED TO PASS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS BETWEEN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WITH LITTLE OR NO WIND IMPACTS TO THE ISLANDS; HOWEVER SWELLS ASSOCIATED WITH SAM COULD IMPACT COASTAL AREAS AS EARLY AS TONIGHT TO PRODUCE DANGEROUS SURFS AND RIP CURRENTS; AS A RESULT, A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS LIKELY TO BE ISSUED SHORTLY. RESIDENTS ARE STILL URGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE SAM UNTIL IT CLEARS THE AREA.
AT 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SAM WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.6 NORTH, LONGITUDE 52.0 WEST OR APPROXIMATELY 745 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARDS.
SAM IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH (13 KM/H) AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED BEGINNING ON THURSDAY. A TURN TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, SAM WILL PASS WELL TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 125 MPH (205 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES (45 KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES (165 KM).
THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED FROM NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT OBSERVATIONS IS 966 MB (28.53 INCHES).
RESIDENTS ARE AGAIN ASKED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE SAM.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AFTER 5PM ECT TODAY
FORECASTER LENARD JOSIAH
