BRADES, Montserrat, September 9th, 2011 – Residents are asked to rush their hurricane preparedness plans as Tropical Storm Maria heads towards Montserrat and the Leeward Islands.

Keithly Meade, Director of the Antigua Met Office says rain bans can start affecting the island as early as 7:00pm Friday and after midnight tonight tropical storm force winds are expected over Montserrat and the neighbouring islands.

The centre of Tropical Storm Maria is expected to reach Montserrat in the early hours of Saturday, Meade said on ZJB Radio Montserrat around noon Friday. He added that a flash flood watch is in effect and will most likely me upgraded to a warning later today.

Officials at the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) are urging residents to pay attention to the passage of the storm. “Residents in low lying and flood prone areas should be prepared to move to high ground as flash flooding is possible,” said DMCA Communications Officer James White Jr.

“In addition, residents who traverse or live near or at the bottom of slopes should guard against land slippages and landslides. These areas include Barzey’s, Soldier Ghaut, Forgathy, Runaway Ghaut and Pump Ghaut.

“The DMCA would like to reiterate that persons should not attempt to cross water courses and ghauts during periods of heavy rainfall. Mudflows are also expected in the Belham River Valley and therefore persons should not cross whenever it is raining,” White said.

Persons seeking shelter are asked to make arrangements first with family and friends. However, if people feel uncomfortable staying in their own homes they can contact the DMCA at 491-7166 so that alternative arrangements can be made to accommodate them in shelters.

The 11:00am coordinates for Tropical Storm Maria are:

Location: 14.2N 57.5w about 350 miles 560 km SE of the Leeward Islands.
Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph or 75 km/h present movement... WNW or 285 degrees at 17 mph...28 km/h minimum central pressure...1003 mb...29.62 inches.

The tropical storm watch for Puerto Rico including Vieques and Culebra has been replaced with a Tropical Storm Warning. The Government of Barbados has replaced the Tropical Storm Watch for Dominica with a Tropical Storm Warning.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Saba and St. Eustatius, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Montserrat, Nevis, Saint Kitts and the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico including Vieques and Culebra.

On the forecast track, the centre of Maria will reach the Lesser Antilles early tonight and be near the Virgin Islands by Saturday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph or 75 km/h with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles 280 km mainly to the Northeast of the centre. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb, 29.62 inches.

Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of four to eight inches with isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches over the central to northern Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Residents can listen to ZJB Radio Montserrat on 88.3FM or 99.5FM or www.zjb.gov.ms.

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