DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) September 06, 2017
…A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ST MAARTEN…
WEATHER:
This afternoon: Mainly cloudy and windy with scattered showers and scattered thunderstorms.
Tonight through Wednesday midday: Overcast with tropical storm to hurricane conditions.
Forecast High: 27°C / 81°F Forecast Low: 20°C / 68°F
Sunset Today: 6:23 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:59 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS:
This afternoon: Northeast with a moderate to near gale of 15 to 34 miles per hour.
Tonight: Tropical storm force winds to hurricane force winds.
SYNOPSIS:
Potentially catastrophic category 5, Hurricane Irma is approaching the region. External rain bands associated with Irma are expected to move through the area earlier today. A deterioration in conditions to include scattered showers, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and dangerous seas are expected later today and Hurricane conditions later tonight into Wednesday.
All users of the sea are advised to take all necessary precautions to protect life and property.
STATE OF THE SEA: Rough to Very High WAVES/SWELLS: 13 to 32 feet
SPECIAL FEATURE:
At 11:00 AM LST, the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 16.8 North, longitude 58.4 West or about 320 miles east-southeast of St. Maarten. Irma is moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general
motion is expected to continue today, followed by a turn toward the
west-northwest tonight.
Maximum sustained winds have further increased to near 180 mph (285 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 hurricane.
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.
OUTLOOK through Thursday midday: Overcast, hurricane force winds, heavy showers with numerous thunderstorms.
FORECASTER: Gordon
