PHILIPSBURG:---- The government of the Netherlands has issued a Hurricane Watch for
the islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten/ St. Martin. Other islands such Antigua, Guadeloupe, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis are all under hurricane watch as of 5 PM Sunday. The information was released by the National Hurricane Center (NOAA). At 5 PM Sunday Hurricane Irma was located at 17.6N 46.8W about 790 miles (1275) KM east of the Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds 115 MPH...185 KM/H with movement W or 260 degrees at 14MPH (22KM/H).
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:-
* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
Interests in the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of Irma. Additional Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches may be
required for portions of this area on Monday. At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 17.6 North, longitude 49.8 West. Irma is moving toward
the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). A westward to west-southwestward motion with some reduction in forwarding speed is expected through Monday night. On the forecast track, the center of Irma is
forecast to approach the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the
next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).
Hurricane Watches Issued For Portions Of The Leeward Islands.
