16th September 2010 –At 5:00AM the centre of Hurricane Igor was located near Latitude 20.5 North/Longitude 56.8 West, or about 440 miles east north-east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Movement is to the west-northwest at 7mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 145mph making Igor a category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane force winds extend outwards up to 70 miles and tropical storm force winds extend up to 275 miles. Estimated minimum central pressure is 929MB.
Forecasters expect Igor to slowly weaken by Friday. A general motion to the west northwest is expected during the next 48 hours.
A small craft advisory remains in effect for the Virgin Islands as marine conditions have deteriorated and will remain so until Friday. Swells generated by Hurricane Igor are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
HURRICANE JULIA
At 5:00AM, Hurricane Julia was located near Latitude 21.2 North/Longitude 36.2 West, or about 875 miles west north-west of the Cape Verde Islands. Maximum sustained winds are now near 105 mph. Movement is to the northwest at 18 mph.
Hurricane Julia has been downgraded to a category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Experts forecast Julia will continue to weaken during the next day or two.
Residents are urged not to become relaxed, but to remain in a state of high alert. We are now in the peak of the 2010 Hurricane Season, and any preparedness issues not addressed earlier should be taken care of as soon as possible. Further advisories and information on developing systems in the Atlantic can be found on the Department of Disaster Management’s website at www.bviddm.com.
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.
