The Antigua & Barbuda Meteorological Services has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the British Virgin Islands.
At 500 AM, the center of Hurricane Jose was located near latitude 17.5 North, longitude 60.3 West. Jose is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. A continued
west-northwest to northwest motion is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the core of Jose will pass close to or just east of the northern Leeward Islands today.
Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph with higher gusts. Jose is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuation in intensity, up or down, could occur during the next 24 hours. Afterward, gradual weakening is expected to occur.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb.
Jose remains a small and compact hurricane. In this advisory, forecasters have reduced the squall and wind radii based on the latest radar and satellite imagery. The very destructive winds of Jose are limited to within 25 miles of the centre. The centre of Jose will pass about 50 miles to 70 miles northeast of the northernmost Leeward Islands today as a category 4 hurricane. These northern most islands could have sustained winds within squalls as high as 50 mph to 65 mph with gusts of 80 mph. Though forecasters do expect the outer squalls of Jose to impact the Leeward Islands, the wind on this current track would not be any stronger than the low end of tropical storm force for most of the islands. However, much higher winds would be likely if Jose were to track a little to the south of where forecasters have currently forecast it to track.
Persons in the British Virgin Islands should continue to pay close attention to the progress of Hurricane Jose as it gets closer to the Northern Leeward Islands
Please continue to monitor local media stations, DDM’s website (bviddm.com) and Facebook at BVIDDM for regular updates.
Disclaimer: The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) is not an official Meteorological Office. The Information disseminated by the Department is gathered from a number of professional sources used or contracted by the DDM to provide such information. This information is to be used as a guide by anyone who has interest in local weather conditions. By no means can the DDM or the BVI Government be held accountable by anyone who uses this information appropriately for legal evidence or in justification of any decision which may result in the loss of finances, property or life.
