30th October 2010-8PM
– The center of Hurricane Tomas was located near latitude 13.5 north longitude
61.7 west. Tomas is moving toward the
west-northwest near 9 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Sunday. On the forecast track the center of Tomas
will continue to move away from St. Lucia and St. Vincent this evening.
Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher Gusts. Tomas is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional
strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and
tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 Miles.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 982 MB. Conditions are favorable for
gradual strengthening, and forecasters believe that Tomas could become a
category 2 hurricane by Monday afternoon.
When Hurricane Tomas reaches the
central Caribbean Sea, conditions will become more favorable for strengthening,
and it could become a category 3 hurricane by the time it makes landfall in
Haiti, with sustained winds near 115 mph.
The heaviest squalls extend from St. Lucia to about 35 miles west of St.
Vincent, then to about 50 miles south and east of St. Vincent.
It will be another 4-5 hours before conditions begin to improve in the
Windward Islands. Periods of heavy rain and gusty winds will still be possible
through most of the overnight hours.
Some of the outer squalls will affect the Leeward Islands this evening
and overnight and may affect the Virgin Islands overnight and early tomorrow. The
Antigua Meteorological Office has not issued any watches or warnings for the Territory.
However, they do anticipate that some of the outer rain bands associated with Hurricane
Tomas may affect the local area. These outer rain bands have the potential to
be heavy at times.
MARINE CONDITIONS
As Hurricane Tomas is expected to pass over 200 nautical miles south of
the area, tropical storm force wind conditions are expected to affect the
Caribbean Waters. As these conditions will generate large swells a small craft advisory is in effect
until Tuesday morning.
Residents are reminded that in the event that heavy showers persist,
they should seek to preserve life and property especially if they are in flood
prone areas. At present the Hurricane is not a direct threat to the Virgin
Islands however, persons should monitor the system in the event the forecast
track brings the system closer to the local area than anticipated.
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.
