Tropical Storm Chris forms near Caribbean islands | Main | All quiet on the Chris front
August 2, 2006
Topical Storm Chris better organized, but skirting the islands
So far the Caribbean islands have dodged the bullet with Tropical Storm (soon perhaps to be hurricane) Chris. It has slowed downed (10 MPH) and gotten a bit stronger (60 MPH winds) but is far enough north of us here on St. Thomas to be not much worse that some of the recent tropical waves that have passed through (lots of rain - always good - and some gusty winds). Tropical Storm warnings are already coming down in Antigua. This storm still has to be watched and will continue to affect the Caribbean for several more days at the least. Remember to check out our Caribbean webcams page for up to the minute images of the region.
CORRECTED STORM MOTION SECTION
...CHRIS GETTING BETTER ORGANIZED AS IT SKIRTS THE NORTHERNMOST
LEEWARD ISLANDS...
...ADDITIONAL TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS DISCONTINUED...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF
ANGUILLA...ST. BARTHELEMY...ST. MARTIN...AND ST. MAARTEN...AND
ALSO FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A
TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.
AT 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA HAS
DISCONTINUED THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR ANTIGUA...BARBUDA...
ST. KITTS...AND NEVIS.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM CHRIS WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 62.6 WEST OR ABOUT 60
MILES... 95 KM...NORTHEAST OF ST. MARTIN.
CHRIS IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR...
AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF CHRIS WILL PASS NORTH OF THE
NORTHERNMOST LEEWARD ISLANDS LATER THIS MORNING...AND REMAIN NORTH
OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
HOWEVER...SOME OF THE STRONG RAIN BANDS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHRIS
MAY AFFECT PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS LATER TONIGHT AND
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...
AND CHRIS COULD BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TODAY OR EARLY THURSDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 75 MILES...120 KM
...MAINLY NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1001 MB...29.56 INCHES.
CHRIS IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5
INCHES OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
...AND PORTIONS OF PUERTO RICO...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 8
INCHES POSSIBLE OVER HIGHER TERRAIN THROUGH THURSDAY.
REPEATING THE 500 AM AST POSITION...18.8 N...62.6 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB.