BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS Tropical Storm Matthew makes its way through portions of the Caribbean chain, residents of St. Kitts and Nevis are advised to closely monitor the system as a couple of inches of rain and gusty winds could be experienced.
The St. Kitts Meteorological Office released a weather bulletin earlier indicating that the system is moving at a pace of 21 miles per hour in a westerly direction.
According to expectations, TS Matthew will pass “about 250 miles south of St. Kitts Nevis” this afternoon and over the course of the evening.
Tropical Storm warnings however, are in effect for Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbados, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia.
The system has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour and tropical-storm-force winds extend for about 205 miles from the centre of the storm.
“Seas are expected to continue (to) deteriorate and peak at 8- 12ft. As TS Matthew moves through the Windward Islands this afternoon some of the feeder-bands will move over St. Kitts and Nevis and produce some showers.”
No flood advisories have been issued for the Federation but the Met Office indicated that it is monitoring the progress of the storm and the appropriate advisories would be issued if the need arises.
“Some of the showers may be moderate to heavy at times accompanied by thunderstorms. We at the St. Kitts-Nevis Meteorological Services will continue to closely monitoring the progress of TS Matthew and will issue any flood advisories if they become necessary.”
