St Lucia now under a hurricane watch

By SLUMET

Forecaster: Lemuel O’Shaughnessy

Present weather at Hewanorra Airport is partly cloudy.

Present temperature at Hewanorra Airport is 28°C or 82°F.

Last night’s minimum temperature at Hewanorra Airport was 28°C or 82°F.

Wind at Hewanorra Airport is blowing from the east-northeasterly at 18 mph or 30 km/h.

Rainfall in the 24-hour period that ended at 2:00 am today:

At Hewanorra Airport: 1.5 mm.

Total rainfall for the month of June so far:

At Hewanorra Airport: 80.6 mm.

Sunset today: 6:34 pm. Sunrise tomorrow: 5:37 am.

FORECAST FOR SAINT LUCIA VALID FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS

Winds will be blowing from between the northeast and southeast near 29 mph or 46 km/h, with higher gusts.

Weather: Partly cloudy and hazy with a few scattered showers at first, becoming cloudy to overcast with periods of rain, moderate to heavy showers, gusty winds and thunderstorms from late afternoon into tomorrow.

Residents and motorists in areas prone to flooding and landslides are urged to exercise extreme caution and to safeguard life and property.

MARINE FORECAST FOR SEAS IN A 25 MILE OR 40 KM RADIUS FROM SAINT LUCIA

Tides for Castries Harbour: Low at 12:57 pm… High at 7:19 pm.

Tides for Vieux Fort Bay: High at 6:50 am… Low at 2:24 pm.

Seas: Moderate with waves 4 to 6 feet or 1.2 to 1.8 metres in the Caribbean Sea and locally rough with waves 7 to 11 feet or 2.1 to 3.4 metres in the Atlantic Ocean, during today. From tonight seas will be rough to very rough with waves 10 to 16 feet or 3.0 to 4.9 meters.

Small craft operators are advised to remain in port and secure property. Residents and seabathers are also advised to stay away from beaches and coastal areas due to stormy conditions generated by Tropical Storm Bret.

FORECAST FOR THE LESSER ANTILLES

Partly cloudy and hazy with a few scattered showers at first, becoming cloudy to overcast with periods of rain, moderate to heavy showers, gusty winds and thunderstorms from tomorrow afternoon.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

…..Hurricane watch is in effect for Saint Lucia…..

…..Tropical Storm warning remains in effect for Saint Lucia…..

At 5:00 am today, the centre of Tropical Storm Bret was located near Latitude 13.7 degrees north, Longitude 56.6 degrees west or about 260 miles or 419 kilometers east of St Lucia. Bret is moving toward the west near 15 mph or 24 km/h and this general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Bret is expected to approach Saint Lucia and the Lesser Antilles today, move across the Lesser Antilles this evening and tonight, and then move westward across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea Friday and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph or 110 km/h, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast today while Bret approaches the Lesser Antilles. Weakening is expected to begin tonight or Friday after Bret passes the Lesser Antilles and the system is likely to dissipate over the central Caribbean Sea by Saturday.Interests in Saint Lucia and the Lesser Antilles should continue to monitor the progress of this system.

…Tropical Depression Four Forms In The Central Atlantic…

At 5:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression Four was located near latitude 10.9 degrees north, longitude 41.1 degrees west. The depression is moving toward the west near 12 mph or 19 km/h, and this motion is expected to increase with a turn toward the northwest during the next few days. On the forecast track, the depression is expected to remain east of the northern Leeward Islands through the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be near 35 mph or 55 km/h with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm in a day or so. Interests the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of this system.

Another tropical wave located over the eastern Tropical Atlantic is moving westward near 8 mph or 13 km/h.