The Antigua Meteorological Service has issued a
hurricane warning for the British Virgin Islands.
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
At 11:00 a.m., the centre of Tropical Storm Gonzalo
was located near Latitude 17.2 North and Longitude 61.9 West.
Gonzalo is moving toward the west North West
near 10 miles per hour. This general
motion is expected to continue today followed by a turn toward the northwest
tonight. On the forecast track the centre of Gonzalo will move into the
Northeastern Caribbean this afternoon and be near or over the British Virgin
Islands tonight and early Tuesday.
Reports from an air force reserve reconnaissance
aircraft and surface observations from Antigua indicate that maximum sustained winds
have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during
the next 48 Hours and Gonzalo is expected to become a hurricane tonight or Tuesday
while it moves over the northeastern Caribbean Sea.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to
70 miles from the centre. During the past couple of hours Antigua
reported a sustained wind of 67 mph and a gust to 88 mph. The minimum central
pressure recently measured by the aircraft was 992 mb.
Hazards
affecting land
Wind: Hurricane conditions are expected in the British
Virgin Islands tonight and early Tuesday.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area
tonight and early Tuesday with tropical storm conditions expected by this
evening.
Tropical storm conditions will continue to
spread over portions of the warning area in the Leeward Islands today.
Rainfall:Gonzalo is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations
of 4 to 8 inches across the leeward islands…British Virgin Islands and Puerto
Rico with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches possible.
Surf:
Swells generated by Gonzalo
will affect the Leeward Islands from Dominica northward today. Swells will reach the British Virgin Islands
by this afternoon. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and
rip current conditions.
Residents are urged complete
preparations prior the arrival of Tropical Storm Gonzalo. Please visit the
Department of Disaster Managements website at www.bviddm.com and
subscribe for updates and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bvi.ddm.
