DATE ISSUED: Thursday, July 23, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) July 24, 2020
…A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…
WEATHER:
This afternoon through tonight: Partly cloudy to cloudy and breezy with scattered showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Friday morning: Partly cloudy and breezy with a few showers.
Forecast High: 31°C / 88°F Forecast Low: 25°C / 77°F
Sunset Today: 6:50 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:48 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: East northeasterly to east southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 19 mph and occasional higher gusts.
SYNOPSIS:
A tropical wave located in the vicinity of the Lesser Antilles will cause cloudiness, showers and possible thunderstorms across the region during this forecast period. Meanwhile, the Atlantic high pressure system will continue to generate gentle to moderate winds.
Seas are expected to deteriorate and peak at 8 feet over the next few days. Small craft operators and sea bathers should exercise caution.
STATE OF THE SEA: Moderate to rough WAVES/SWELLS: 5 to 8 feet
SPECIAL FEATURE: At 11:00 am, the center of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 9.6 North, longitude 48.3 West or about 1150 miles southeast of St. Maarten. The system is moving toward the west near 14 mph with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph and higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days and Gonzalo could become a hurricane tonight or on Friday. This system is expected to pass well south of St. Maarten. Gonzalo currently poses no direct threat to St. Maarten. The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten will continue to monitor the progress of this system and keep the public updated accordingly.
OUTLOOK through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers.
FORECASTER: Albert
