BASSETERRE, Sty. Kitts – WITH recovery efforts moving full steam ahead on islands that were decimated by Hurricane Irma, the National Hurricane Center has upgraded Jose to a Category 4 Hurricane.
Jose started the day as a minor Category 3 Hurricane but was upgraded after Hurricane Hunters flew through the storm midmorning and reporting that it was packing winds of 150 mph.
In its 11:00 a.m. update, the National Hurricane Center placed the eye of Hurricane Jose near latitude 16.3 North, longitude 57.1 West.
Jose is said to be moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/h). A gradual turn towards the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next 48 hours.
On the forecast track, the center of Jose will pass near or east of the northeastern Leeward Islands tomorrow (Sept. 9).
The storm is approximately 415 MI or 670 KM East southeasts of the Northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 150mph.
Recent data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane indicated that maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/h) with higher gusts.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles
(185 km).
Meteorologists are describing Jose as a dangerous Category 4 Hurricane, with a number of islands on various watches and warnings.
St. Thomas and St. John are currently under a Tropical Storm Watch, while the government of Antigua has issued Tropical Storm Watch for the
British Virgin Islands.
The government of France has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for
St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
The government of Sint Maarten has issued a Tropical Storm Warning
for that island, and a Hurricane Watch is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Sint Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
A Tropical Storm Watch is also in effect for St. Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius and Montserrat.
