27th August 2010 – As of 11AM, Tropical Storm Earl was located near 15.7N/43.6W, or about 1300 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Movement is to the west at 17 mph. Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph. Minimum central pressure is 1003MB.
Earl is currently forecast to track to the west to west-northwest for the next 2-3 days then begin a gradual turn to the northwest. Forecasters expect Earl to gradually strengthen over the next several days, becoming a hurricane on Sunday. In about 5 days, Earl is forecast to be a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph. The current forecast takes Earl a few hundred miles north of the Virgin Islands however as the last few forecasts have been adjusted more southward there is a possibility the Virgin Islands can experience a heavier impact from the storm.
The current forecast suggests that squalls associated with the outer bands of Earl could start affecting the Islands of the northeast Caribbean around Sunday with strong thunderstorms bringing heavy rain and gusty conditions. On Monday, breezy conditions with winds up to 25 mph could impact the northeastern Leeward Islands.
The public is again reminded that we are almost in the peak of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Any loose items or material in residential areas, persons’ yards and on construction sites should be secured immediately. Hazard Inspectors, appointed under the Disaster Management Act, 2003, shall be on standby to investigate and advise on areas where debris needs to be secured to avoid them becoming projectiles and missiles during storms, thus creating a greater risk to life and property.
