MDS Special Weather Bulletin 29 Jul 2020 no. 6
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Advisory Number 5
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092020
1100 AM AST Wed Jul 29 2020
...HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS CONTINUE TO SPREAD OVER THE
LEEWARD ISLANDS...
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...15.8N 63.7W
ABOUT 150 MI...240 KM SSE OF ST. CROIX
ABOUT 240 MI...385 KM SE OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of the Bahamas has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. The government of the Bahamas has also issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the central Bahamas.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla
* Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemy
* Saba and St. Eustatius
* St. Maarten
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo eastward to Cabo Engano and then westward along the northern coast to the Dominican Republic/Haiti border
* North coast of Haiti from Le Mole St Nicholas eastward to the northern border with the Dominican Republic
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* Southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Dominican Republic from the southern Haiti border eastward to Cabo Caucedo
* Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador
Interests in the northwestern Bahamas and Cuba should monitor the progress of this system.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the disturbance was centered near latitude 15.8 North, longitude 63.7 West. The system is moving toward the west-northwest near 23 mph (37 km/h), and this general motion with a reduction in forward speed is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the system will move near or just south of Puerto Rico later today and tonight, near or over Hispaniola on Thursday, and near or over eastern Cuba on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some increase in strength is forecast through tonight, with weakening likely on Thursday due to land interaction. Some restrengthening is possible by this weekend.
Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for additional development, and a tropical storm is forecast to form later today or tonight.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...high...90 percent
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...90 percent
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles (445 km) primarily to the north and northeast of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Tropical storm conditions are moving across portions of the Leeward Islands and will spread across the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this afternoon through Thursday morning. These conditions are forecast to reach portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti within the warning area early Thursday, and the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Thursday afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch areas on Thursday and Friday.
RAINFALL: The disturbance is expected to produce the following rain accumulations:
Across the northern Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin Islands: 3 to 6 inches.
Across Puerto Rico: 3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches.
Across the Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, and Turks and Caicos: 3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches.
Across the Inagua Islands: 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals of 12 inches.
These rainfall amounts may lead to life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, as well as potential riverine flooding beginning today. Urban and small stream flooding is expected for the U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico.
SURF: Swells generated by Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine will be affecting portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during the next day or two. These swells are forecast to
reach the north coast of the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas tonight or Thursday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Forecaster Brown
