WHCA31 TAPA
TROPICAL STORM CHANTAL ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
11:00 AM ECT TUE, JUL 9, 2013
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
…CHANTAL MOVING BETWEEN MARTINIQUE AND ST. LUCIA…
AT 1100 AM AST…1500 UTC…DATA FROM A RECONNAISSANCE PLANE.. BARBADOS AND MARTINIQUE RADAR INDICATE THAT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM CHANTAL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.4 NORTH… LONGITUDE 61.5 WEST. CHANTAL IS MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 29 MPH…AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK…THE CENTER OF CHANTAL WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE LESSER ANTILLES LATER
TODAY AND CONTINUE OVER THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. CHANTAL IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR OR OVER THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON WEDNESDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH. WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THESE WINDS ARE CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER. SOME ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE BEFORE CHANTAL MOVES OVER HISPANIOLA.
TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER. TRINITY CARABELLE IN THE NORTHEAST TIP OF MARTINIQUE RECENTLY REPORTED WINDS OF NEAR 60 MPH.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1006 MB…29.71 INCHES.
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED OVER THE LEEWARD AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER THE CLOUD BANDS COULD REACH THE ISLANDS AND BRING ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY THUNDERSTORMS TO THE LEEWARDS LATER TODAY AND THE BVI EARLY TOMORROW. IN ADDITION, A WATCH OR WARNING MAY BECOME NECESSARY FOR THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT, THEREFORE RESIDENTS AND INTERESTS IN THE BVI SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE STORM.
ALL RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE MOVEMENT OF CHANTAL CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO ACT IF NECESSARY.
SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AND SEA BATHERS SHOULD AVOID THE WATERS TODAY.
REPEATING THE 11 AM ECT POSITION:
LOCATION…14.4N 61.5W
ABOUT 55 MI… NW OF ST. LUCIA
ABOUT 410 MI.. SE OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH..
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 29 MPH..
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1006 MB…29.71 INCHES
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT .. 5PM ECT
FORECASTER BERNELL SIMON
