TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT STATEMENT
HURRICANE SAM ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 5:04 PM ECT SUN, SEP 26, 2021
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT MEANS THAT, IN THIS CASE, A HURRICANE IS IN OUR MONITORED AREA. WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME BUT MAY BE NECESSARY IN THE NEXT 72 HOURS.
BASED ON CURRENT INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS, HURRICANE SAM IS EXPECTED TO PASS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS BETWEEN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WITH LITTLE OR NO WIND IMPACT TO THE ISLANDS. THEREFORE, THERE IS A LOW THREAT TO THE ISLANDS WITH RESPECT TO WINDS. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF TROPICAL CYCLONES ANY SHIFT TO THE SOUTH COULD BRING THE CYCLONE CLOSER TO THE ISLANDS; HENCE RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT AND KEEP CLOSE AND CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF THIS POWERFUL AND DANGEROUS SYSTEM.
AS SAM PASSES, EXTENSIVE IMPACTS FROM SWELLS/ SURFS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT COASTAL AREAS WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOIL EROSION AND RIP
CURRENTS, THEREFORE TO BE SAFE, RESIDENTS WILL BE ASKED TO AVOID THESE AREAS UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR IS GIVEN.
AT 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SAM WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.2 NORTH, LONGITUDE 50.5 WEST.
SAM IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH (11 KM/H) AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ALONG WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED COMMENCING BY MIDWEEK.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH (240 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SAM IS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR- SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THEREAFTER, SOME SLOW WEAKENING IS FORECAST.
SAM IS A SMALL TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES (45 KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL-STORM- FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES (150 KM).
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 938 MB (27.70 INCHES). THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT 11 PM ECT
FORECASTER CECIL MATTHEW
