Weather Bulletin
TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION STATEMENT
WHCA31 TAPA
TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION STATEMENT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 5 PM ECT THU, SEP 27, 2018
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
AT 5PM THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KIRK WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.2 NORTH, LONGITUDE 60.2 WEST OR ABOUT
195 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND A LITTLE OVER 300 MILES SOUTH EAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
KIRK IS MOVING TOWARDS THE WEST- NORTHWEST AT NEAR 14 MPH AND A WEST- NORTHWESTWARD TO WESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF KIRK WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LESSER ANTILLES WITHIN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA BY THIS EVENING.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANCE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST BEFORE KIRK MOVES THROUGH THE LESSER ANTILLES. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WHILE THE SYSTEM MOVES OVER THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA. KIRK IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRIDAY NIGHT, AND DEGENERATE INTO A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE BY SUNDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES PRIMARILY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1000 MB OR 29.53 INCHES.
AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO WARNINGS OR WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE LEEWARD AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, AS KIRK CONTINUES ON THE PATH TOWARDS THE WINDWARD ISLAND AT A SAFE ENOUGH DISTANCE TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA. HOWEVER, SPIRAL BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM ARE LIKELY TO BRING CLOUDY TO OVERCAST SKIES WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS TO THE ISLANDS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 2, INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.
MARINE CONDITIONS WILL FURTHER DETERIORATE LATER ON TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY; HENCE, STERN WARNINGS ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT FOR MARINERS AND SEA BATHERS AGAINST HARZARDOUS SEA CONDITIONS.
ALL RESIDENTS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ARE ASKED TO CLOSLEY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF KIRK UNTIL IT COMPLETELY EXITS THE AREA.
FORECASTER
