PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- Heads of Government from both sides of the island of St. Maarten/ St. Martin have been urging residents to take all necessary precautions as Hurricane Irma approaches the island. At 8 AM on Tuesday, September 5th, Hurricane Irma strengthened to a category five hurricane which means Irma will be packing 175 MPH and is moving 14MPH, central pressure is 929 millibars, located about 300 miles of the St. Maarten. Good to note is that Irma will pass on the North side of the Leeward Islands which is the worst side of the storm.
Portions of the Leewards Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, St. Barths are all under hurricane watch. Residents on St. Maarten/ St. Martin are urged to stock up on water and both sides desalination plants are expected to close down on Tuesday as the storm approaches both plants will reopen when the hurricane Irma passes and the seas become calm.
As Hurricane strengthens US territory such as Puerto Rico and Florida begin preparing for the worst hurricane of the 2017 season.
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN...
DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 TIME ISSUED: 08:00 AM
...IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE...
...PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE HURRICANE
WARNING AREA...
Location: Lat. 16.7N ....Lon. 57.7W
About: 367 miles ESE of St. Maarten
Maximum sustained winds: 175 mph ....280 KM/H
Present Movement: W or...280 degrees at 14 mph...22 KM/H
Minimum Central Pressure: 929 mb....27.44 inches
DISCUSSION AND 24-HOUR OUTLOOK
AT 08:00AM...THE DISTINCT EYE OF HURRICANE IRMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 57.7 WEST OR ABOUT 367 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF ST. MAARTEN.
IRMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH (22 KM/H). THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY, FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TONIGHT.
REPORTS FROM A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE IRMA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND MAXIMUM SUSTAINNED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO 175 MPH...280 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
IRMA IS A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.
SOME FLUCTIONS 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 OF DAYS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES (75KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND UP TO 140 MILES (220KM) FROM THE CENTER.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 929 MB...27.44 INCHES.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF IRMA WILL MOVE NEAR ST. MAARTEN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO DETERIORATE BY TUESDAY EVENING.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND AND SEA
WIND:
Hurricane conditions are expected in St. Maarten by late Tuesday night, however, Tropical storm force winds are expected earlier Tuesday evening.
RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4-8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches across the Leeward Islands.
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet above normal tide levels along the coasts of St Maarten. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
SEAS: Swells generated by Irma will affect the local area for the next several days. These swells are likely to cause life threatening surf and rip current conditions, especially on the northern and eastern shores. Mariners are advised to stay in port in order to safeguard life and property.
ALL RESIDENTS/VISITORS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO FINALIZE PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY, AND CONTINUE MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF THE HURRICANE.
THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR HURRICANE IRMA AND ISSUE SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETINS.
The next update will be issued today at 11:30 am (15:30 UTC).
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A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS
Hurricane Irma now category 5, residents of all islands under hurricane watch urged to take precautions.
