BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-ROUGHLY two weeks after Tropical Storm Ana dumped its rains on St. Kitts-Nevis, the Federation has been issued a watch for the approaching Tropical Storm Erika.
The storm was officially named in the 5 p.m. bulletin from the Antigua Meteorological Office, and has a centre that is currently located approximately 356 miles east of St. Kitts-Nevis. Erika is moving to the west at nine miles per hour.
“A tropical storm watch is in effect for St. Kitts and Nevis and the rest of the Leeward Islands, excluding Montserrat,” the bulletin stated. “A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.”
Currently, Tropical Storm Erika has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, and “storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles, mainly to the north and east of the centre”.
Erika was described as “not a well organized storm” in the update, with most of the heavy winds and rains to the north and east of the storm’s centre.
“Based on the forecast path, the centre of the storm is expected to pass north of St. Kitts and Nevis tomorrow night, with most of its winds remaining well to the north of the islands.
“However, because of the uncertainty of the future path of Erika, residents should closely monitor the progress of the system, since any deviation to the south could bring Tropical Storm Erika and its associated heavy rains and strong winds dangerously close to the islands,” the statement further informed.
According to the National Hurricane Centre of the United States, “slow strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days” for Erika.
