Hurricane Tammy's path as of Oct. 21, 2023 at 5:00 a.m. AST. By. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a new advisory at 5:00 AM AST on Saturday, indicating that Hurricane Tammy has shifted its trajectory to a northwestward direction, positioning itself east of Dominica. The Leeward Islands are now preparing for potential hurricane conditions and heavy rainfall forecasted for later today and tonight.
Current Hurricane Status:
- Location: 15.2N 60.4W, about 60 miles ESE of Dominica and approximately 100 miles SE of Guadeloupe.
- Winds: Maximum sustained winds are clocking in at 80 mph, with even stronger gusts.
- Direction and Speed: Presently, Tammy is moving at 9 mph in a northwest direction.
- Pressure: The current central pressure of the hurricane is measured at 991 mb or 29.27 inches.
Advisories in Effect:
Hurricane Warnings are in place for:
- Guadeloupe
- Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla
- St. Maarten
- St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
Hurricane Watches have been issued for:
- Dominica
- Saba and St. Eustatius
Tropical Storm Warnings are active for:
- Dominica
- Saba and St. Eustatius
Additionally, Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for Martinique and the British Virgin Islands.
Residents within these areas are urged to finalize their safety preparations as hurricane conditions are imminent within the next 24 hours.
Forecast and Hazards:
Tammy's current northwest trajectory is predicted to continue into tonight. By Sunday, a turn toward the north-northwest is expected, and by Monday, a shift directly north. If predictions hold, Tammy's center will move over parts of the Leeward Islands through early Sunday and venture north of the northern Leeward Islands by Sunday afternoon.
Significant rainfalls are anticipated, with the Leeward Islands expecting between 4 to 8 inches and isolated areas seeing a maximum of 12 inches. Portions of the Windward Islands might receive 2 to 4 inches of rain, with some areas getting up to 6 inches. The British and U.S. Virgin Islands, along with eastern Puerto Rico, are predicted to experience 1 to 2 inches of rain, with a possibility of reaching 4 inches in isolated regions. This rainfall may trigger flash and urban floods, and in high terrains, isolated mudslides are a concern.
A storm surge could elevate water levels 1 to 3 feet above the usual tide levels near where Tammy's center passes across the Leeward Islands, producing large, perilous waves along the coast.
Additionally, swells induced by Tammy are predicted to impact parts of the Lesser Antilles in the coming days, posing a threat of life-endangering surf and rip current conditions.
