DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 @ 18:00 LST (22:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Wednesday evening (18:00 LST) September 06, 2017
…A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ST MAARTEN…
WEATHER:
Tonight through Wednesday evening: Mostly overcast with numerous heavy showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds.
Forecast High: 27°C / 81°F Forecast Low: 22°C / 72°F
Sunset Today: 6:23 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:59 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS:
Tonight: North northeasterly and gradually increasing to hurricane force. Tonight: Wednesday: South southwesterly to south southeasterly with storm force to hurricane force winds.
SYNOPSIS:
The center of Hurricane Irma remains on track to move very close to St. Maarten on Wednesday morning, however conditions will start deteriorating this evening. Hurricane conditions are expected later tonight into Wednesday. Heavy showers, scattered thunderstorms, gusty winds and very rough seas are expected with the passage of this system. All mariners are advised to take all necessary precautions to protect life and property. Residents in areas prone to flooding should exercise caution.
STATE OF THE SEA: Rough to Very High WAVES/SWELLS: 13 to 32 feet
SPECIAL FEATURE:
At 5:00 PM LST, the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 17.1 North, longitude 59.8 West or about 225 miles east-southeast of St. Maarten. Irma is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h) but a turn toward the west northwest is forecast to begin tonight and continue for the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds have further increased to near 185 mph (295 km/h)
with higher gusts. Irma is an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple days.
The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS) will continue to monitor the progress of Irma. Members of the public are strongly advised to finalize preparations to protect life and property and continue monitoring the progress of this system.
At 5:00 PM LST, the center of Tropical Storm Jose was located near latitude 12.5 North, longitude 40.6 West or about 1545 miles southeast of St. Maarten. Jose is moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h). Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher and some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
OUTLOOK through Thursday midday: Cloudy to overcast, winds up to storm force, heavy showers with thunderstorms.
FORECASTER: Albert
