WHCA31 TAPA
HURRICANE SAM ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
5:10 AM ECT SAT, SEP 25, 2021
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
…SAM ALMOST A MAJOR HURRICANE WITH ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING EXPECTED…
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, THE FORECAST TRACK OF HURRICANE SAM PLACES THE SYSTEM SUFFICIENTLY NORTH OF THE AREA TO SPARE THE ISLANDS TROPICAL CYCLONE WIND IMPACTS; AS A RESULT, THE SYSTEM POSES A VERY LOW THREAT TO THE ISLANDS AT THIS TIME. NOTWITHSTANDING, IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO MENTION THAT GIVEN THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF TROPICAL CYCLONES, SHIFTS IN THE FORECAST TRACK ARE POSSIBLE WHICH COULD BRING THE SYSTEM CLOSER TO THE AREA RESULTING IN AN INCREASED THREAT OF TROPICAL CYCLONE IMPACTS TO THE ISLANDS. FOR THIS REASON, RESIDENTS AND INTERESTS IN THE LEEWARDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ARE URGED TO CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SYSTEM.
AT 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), THE EYE OF HURRICANE SAM WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 12.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE 46.7 WEST OR 1050 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARDS AND 1238 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
SAM CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARDS THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH (20 KM/H). A SLOWER MOTION TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND, FOLLOWED BY A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST ON MONDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 110 MPH (155 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RAPID INTENSIFICATION IS FORECAST AS SAM IS IN A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT AND SAM IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE LATER TODAY.
NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS AREA REQUIRED AT THIS TIME; HOWEVER RESIDENTS SHOULD GUARD AGAINST COMPLACENCY AND BE PREPARED TO ACTIVATE THEIR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PLANS IN THE EVENT THEY BECOME NECESSARY.
THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED AT 11 AM TODAY.
STAY TUNED TO UPDATES FROM THE MET OFFICE VIA ANTIGUAMET.COM; HOTLINE: 463-4638; FACEBOOK.COM/ABMETSERVICE AND TWITTER.COM/ABMETSERVICE. ALSO, STAY TUNED TO ABS TV AND RADIO ALONG WITH OTHER MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR UPDATES.
