BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation remains under a Hurricane Watch as slow-moving Hurricane Tammy heads towards the Caribbean region across the Atlantic.
In its latest update published yesterday afternoon (Oct. 20), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemy all remain under the Warning, while Dominica remains under a Watch.
A Hurricane Watch means that “hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.” the NHC said.
In its update, the NHC placed the center of Hurricane Tammy near latitude 14.3 North, longitude 59.2 West, and a concern for those in the cone of uncertainty is that Tammy is moving toward the west-northwest near seven mph (11 km/h).
According to the NHC, a turn toward the northwest was anticipated last night, followed by a north-north westward and northward turn tonight through Sunday night.
“On the forecast track, the center of Tammy will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands tonight through Saturday night, and then move north of the northern Leeward Islands on Sunday,” the NHC said in its outlook.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Tammy is expected to be a hurricane while it moves near or over portions of the Leeward Islands,” the NHC warned.
The Leeward Islands is expected to receive four to eight inches with maximum amounts of 12 inches of rainfall from the Hurricane, while those in the Northern Windward Islands will have two to four inches with maximum amounts of six inches, according to the NHC.
In preparation, the Federal Government closed offices early yesterday and members of the private sector organization had boarded up in anticipation of the storm.
