St. John’s Antigua : Residents were late on Monday being warned of the possibility that a tropical storm or even hurricane could begin impacting Antigua & Barbuda by as early as tonight or early Wednesday.
However up to press time yesterday, meteorologist Orvin Paige said the behaviour of the system, at the time 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and only a tropical wave, could not yet be accurately predicted.
“It still has some distance to go and we are in the peak of the hurricane system, which means the system could develop, (but) into what stage of development we cannot pinpoint at this time,” said Paige.
Up to press time there was an 80 per cent chance the system would go on to develop into a named storm. Environmental conditions were said to be conducive for a tropical depression to form during the next day or so as the large disturbance moves westward at 20 to 25 mph.
The US National Hurricane Center yesterday warned that at the rapid speed westward the system could begin to affect the Leeward Islands with gusty winds, showers and thunderstorm activity early Wednesday.
However Paige warned that residents should not confuse the system with a tropical wave that was expected to affect the island last evening or early this morning.
“We are looking at a weak tropical wave out ahead of this disturbed weather…this is not related to the area of disturbed weather system we are currently monitoring,” said Paige.
Residents are urged to closely monitor the system throughout the day and be ready to take necessary action should the system begin to pose a serious threat to the islands.
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