…KIRK AND ASSOCIATED WEATHER MOVING ACROSS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA… | THE DAILY HERALD

TROPICAL WEATHER UPDATE

…A SMALL CRAFT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN…

DATE ISSUED: Friday, September 28, 2018 TIME ISSUED: 11:15 AM

Location: Lat. 13.8…Lon. 63.6 W

About: 300 miles S of St. Maarten

Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph…75 km/h

Present Movement: WNW…285 degrees at 13 mph…20 km/h

Minimum Central Pressure: 1007 mb….29.74 inches

DISCUSSION AND 24-HOUR OUTLOOK

AT 11:00AM…the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located near latitude 13.8 North, longitude 63.6 West or about 300 miles south of St. Maarten. Kirk is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h)…and this motion is expected to continue through

Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Kirk or its remnants will move across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea over the next day or two.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Kirk is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression tonight, and then degenerate into a trough of low pressure on Saturday. Kirk is currently making its closest approach to St. Maarten, passing about 300 miles south of the island. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) mainly to the east of the center.

The latest minimum central pressure estimated from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

POTENTIAL IMPACTS:

Rainfall: As Kirk passes well south of St. Maarten, it has the potential of producing up to 1 inch of rain today. The chance for showers and isolated thunderstorms has diminished, however flooding remains possible in areas prone to flooding as some of these showers may be heavy.

Winds: Gusty winds are expected to persist through tonight, with gusts of up to 30 kts/ 35 mph, after which winds are expected to gradually subside.

Seas: Rough sea conditions with waves peaking near 11ft are expected to remain throughout the day and will gradually subside through the weekend into early next week as Kirk moves farther away from the area.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/81123-kirk-and-associated-weather-moving-across-the-eastern-caribbean-sea

LEAVE A REPLY