BASSETERRE, St. Kitts- Tropical Storm Fiona remains on course to pass about 100 miles to the north of St Kitts Nevis around 2:00 PM today, Wednesday 1st September.
Mr. Carl Herbert, Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) speaking with SKNVibes earlier today said that, Fiona is a weak system, not close to the intensity of Hurricane Earl, with little rain and as a consequence chances of flooding are greatly reduced. Mr. Herbert advised however, that residents should nevertheless take all necessary precautions.
Providing an update on the passage of hurricane Earl Mr. Herbert said that the Met Office at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport recorded 3.82 inches of rainfall between the period 8:00 PM on Sunday 29th August and 2:00 PM Monday 30th August during the passage of Earl, a category 2 storm at the time, packing winds of 105 miles per hour.
Commenting on the concerns voiced by some residents on the need to be provided with more timely weather forecast information, Mr. Herbert explained that the Antigua Met Office is designated by the World Meteorological Organisation as the focal point for the a number of countries in the Leeward Islands, including the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
As a result the local Met Office at RLB International Airport, in observing protocol, is obliged to disseminate only information provided by Antigua, a situation which Mr. Herbert said is sometimes challenging.
