Published 5 September 2023
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St Kitts Nevis News Source
TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT STATEMENT
WHCA31 TAPA
TROPICAL DEPRESSION THIRTEEN ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
12:08 PM ECT TUE, SEP 5, 2023
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
TROPICAL DEPRESSION THIRTEEN HAS FORMED IN THE CENTRAL
TROPICAL ATLANTIC
FORECAST TO BECOME A POWERFUL MAJOR HURRICANE BY THE END OF
THE WEEK…
THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES IS NOW
FOLLOWING THE PROGRESS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION THIRTEEN,
LOCATED 1422 EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND 1694
EAST SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
THE FORECAST TRACK STILL REMAINS HIGHLY UNRELIABLE DUE TO ITS
FAR DISTANCE FROM THE ISLANDS. HOWEVER, A MAJORITY OF MODEL
FORECASTS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT THE CENTRE WILL LIKELY PASS
TO THE NORTH OF THE ISLANDS AT WHICH TIME IT IS FORECAST TO BE A
MAJOR HURRICANE. HENCE, AT THIS EARLY STAGE, TROPICAL
DEPRESSION THIRTEEN POSES LITTLE THREAT TO THE ISLANDS.
NOTWITHSTANDING, IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS ASSESSMENT IS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS THE SYSTEMS MOVES CLOSER TO THE REGION
AND NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION THIRTEEN IS MOVING TOWARDS THE WEST-
NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35
MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS AND THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL
PRESSURE IS 1008 MB
BASED ON THE FORECAST MODEL TRACKS, THE SYSTEM COULD BE AT
THE NEAREST POINT TO THE AREA LATE FRIDAY OR SATURDAY AS A
MAJOR HURRICANE. MOST OF THE HAZARDOUS WINDS COULD STAY
CLEAR OF THE ISLANDS BUT IMPACT ON THE ISLANDS CANNOT BE RULED
OUT. THINGS WILL BECOME CLEARER WITH TIME. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO
WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.
TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND HAVING YOUR
HURRICANE DISASTER PLAN PREPARED AND READY. ADDITIONALLY,
PLEASE STAY ACTIVELY VIGILANT AND MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF
TROPICAL DEPRESSION THIRTEEN CLOSELY.
AN UPDATE WILL BE GIVEN AROUND 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON
FORECASTER
LETITIA HUMPHREYS
