According to an Air Quality Bulletin issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, active children and adults, and, people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Synopsis: The air quality is down to moderate levels as a result of particulate matters 2.5 and 10, associated with a fresh surge in the Saharan Dust. The threat of health problems is elevated, for mainly unusually sensitive people, such as asthmatics, and could potentially cause them limited health impacts.

Air quality index: 51 to 80

Alert Level: II

Sensitive groups: People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk.

Health implications: Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants, there may be moderate health concerns for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is advising residents who are unusually sensitive to dust particles to be vigilant, due to moderate concentrations of Saharan dust in the atmosphere! Residents with respiratory issues such as asthma should keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

The DMCA is further advising residents to limit dust entering their system as best as possible by using masks and protective eyewear. Any masks that filter small particles should be worn such as a surgical mask, N95 and KN95 when going outside.

Continue to monitor DMCA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media sites and our website http://dmca.gov.ms for daily weather updates, public advisories and warnings and information on the wide range of natural and man-made hazards that have the potential to impact Montserrat.

Photos Courtesy: myFoxhurricane

According to a Small Craft Advisory issued by Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these conditions.

Synopsis: A combination of wind waves and wind swells is expected to cause hazardous seas, especially on the Atlantic sides of the islands. The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of mariners is to rise to moderate with the potential for significant impacts. A small craft advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and or wind waves and or wind swells of 7 feet or greater are occurring or imminent.

Winds Over Open Waters: East-southeast at 24 to 37 km/h (13 to 20 knots; 15 to 23 mph), with strong gusts to 57 km/h (31 knots; 36 mph).

Seas (significant wave heights): 1.5 to 2.4 metres (5 to 8 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 3 metres (10 feet). Wind waves and or wind swells of 1.5 to 2.4 metres or 5 to 8 feet and occasionally higher. The dominant wind-wave period is 6 to 9 seconds. Seas will peak on Wednesday.

Potential Impacts: Loss of life at sea; injuries to mariners; capsize or damage or loss of vessels and marine equipment; financial losses; disruption of fisheries and scarcity of fish products and disruption to marine transportation.

Forecaster: Dale Destin

26 years ago, on Wednesday, June 25, 1997; after two years after the start of volcanic activities on Montserrat; 19 people tragically lost their lives at approximately 12:55 pm, when a dome collapsed at the Soufriere Hills Volcano occurred.

In the following 25 minutes, a series of devastating flows (the largest pyroclastic flows to date) swept the northern flanks of the volcano, down Mosquito Ghaut and followed the Paradise River almost to the sea

The flows and associated surge clouds damaged or destroyed between 100 to 150 houses, with the villages of Streatham, Dyers, Harris, Bethel, Bramble, Trants, Farms and Spanish Point.

Initially, 8 people were confirmed dead, and a further 11 were missing. Five people also suffered serious burns.

Today, as we reflect and remember the June 25th, 1997 catastrophic volcanic eruption, we take a moment of silence to mourn and pay our respect to the nineteen individuals who lost their lives in the eastern corridors where the fertile lands were located, engaging in sustenance farming, to supply not only their households but also the wider Montserrat community.

Montserrat, due to its geographical location and is situated in a seismically active region is vulnerable to many natural and man-made hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tropical storms, flash floods, lahars, landslides, fires, pandemics, cyberattacks and terrorism among many others. Hence, developing a “culture of disaster preparedness is a must.

Creating a culture of preparedness is much more than creating an emergency supply kit and a disaster plan to protect families and businesses. It means examining and preparing for all types of natural hazards that can impact your homes, businesses, and communities. Establishing a Culture of Preparedness also means residents practicing their emergency plans with formal and informal drills and exercises and ensuring that adult family and business members can activate the plan. Also, a culture of Preparedness includes regular updates to family, business, and organizational emergency plans and emergency contact information for the ultimate protection of families and businesses.

The power of “simple things” such as setting up personal emergency plans together with your family and friends by discussing emergency contacts, meeting points, means of communication etc. Use simple reminders to have these emergency plans and information readily available, e.g., as a pic on your mobile phone, in your purse, or to stick on the fridge. Also, be on the lookout for publicly displayed information about how to prepare for emergencies or disasters.

Disaster preparedness, combined with updated risk information, and timely assessments of damages and needs, are critical to responding to any potential hazard impact.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE 11 AM TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES SUNDAY JUNE 25 2023 TROPICAL STORM CINDY.

IT STATES THAT NO ALERTS, WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR MONTSERRAT.

TO BE SAFE DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON, RESIDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR DISASTER PLANS PREPARED, AND STAY VIGILANT.

AT 11 AM, TROPICAL STORM CINDY WAS LOCATED ABOUT 330 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MOVING NORTHWEST AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE AREA AT 17 MPH.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 45 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 36 HOURS, AND CINDY IS EXPECTED TO DEGENERATE INTO A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE BY MONDAY NIGHT.

THIS IS THE LAST INFORMATION STATEMENT ON THIS SYSTEM.

FORECASTER DALE DESTIN

ACCORDING TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES TODAY, SATURDAY JUNE 24 2023, IT STATES THAT IT IS FOLLOWING THE PROGRESS OF TROPICAL STORM CINDY, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO PASS NORTH OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS INCLUDING MONTSERRAT EARLY NEXT WEEK. NEVERTHELESS, TO BE SAFE, RESIDENT SHOULD HAVE THEIR HURRICANE DISASTER PLANS PREPARED AND MONITOR THIS STORM UNTIL IT IS OUT OF THE AREA.

NO ALERTS, WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR MONTSERRAT, AND THIS IS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE.

AT 5 AM, TROPICAL STORM CINDY WAS LOCATED ABOUT 715 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MOVING WEST-NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

BASED ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO PASS OVER 200 MILES AWAY FROM THE AREA ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY. MOISTURE TRAILING CINDY COULD BRING LOCALLY HEAVY

RAINFALL TO THE ISLANDS AROUND MIDWEEK. THE SPECIFIC IMPACT WILL DEPEND ON THE EVENTUAL TRACK AND FORWARD SPEED OF THE SYSTEM.

RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR TROPICAL STORM CINDY AND ENSURE THEIR HURRICANE SEASON PLANS ARE PREPARED.

THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE GIVEN AT AROUND 8 AM SUNDAY, OR SOONER IF REQUIRED.

FORECASTER DALE DESTIN

ACCORDING TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES TODAY, FRIDAY 23 JUNE 2023, GIVEN THE RELATIVELY HIGH CERTAINTY OF THE FORECAST TRACK, THERE IS HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT CINDY WILL PASS A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE AREA. EVEN UNDER THE REASONABLE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, THE SYSTEM POSES LITTLE DIRECT THREAT TO THE ISLANDS. NEVERTHELESS, THIS ASSESSMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, TO BE SAFE, HAVE YOUR HURRICANE DISASTER PLAN PREPARED AND CLOSELY MONITOR THIS STORM UNTIL IT IS OUT OF THE AREA.

AT 9 AM, TROPICAL STORM CINDY WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1020 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MOVING WEST AT 15 MPH.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

BASED ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE SYSTEM COULD BE AT THE NEAREST POINT TO THE AREA ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY. THEREAFTER, DURING THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT WEEK, CINDY COULD BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS TO THE ISLANDS. THE SPECIFIC IMPACT WILL DEPEND ON THE INTENSITY, SIZE, TRACK AND FORWARD SPEED OF THE SYSTEM.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ALERTS, WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA, AND THIS IS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE.

RESIDENTS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR TROPICAL STORM CINDY AND ENSURE THEY HAVE THEIR HURRICANE SEASON PLANS PREPARED.

AN UPDATE WILL BE GIVEN AROUND 11 PM TONIGHT, OR SOONER IF REQUIRED.

FORECASTER DALE DESTIN

THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE 5 AM TROPICAL ALERT STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES ON FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 2023.

IT STATES THAT ON ITS PRESENT TRACK, THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM BRET IS FORECAST TO MOVE FURTHER INTO THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND AWAY FROM THE WINDWARD ISLANDS DURING THE COMING DAYS.

SOME WEAKENING IS EXPECTED THIS MORNING, HOWEVER, RAINBANDS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE RAIN AND STRONG WINDS IN PORTIONS OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS.
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AT 5 AM, THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM BRET WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.4 NORTH, LONGITUDE 62.9 WEST OR ABOUT 231 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND 316 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TROPICAL STORM BRET IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 18 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. FURTHER WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED AND BRET IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE OVER THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA BY SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 125 MILES FROM THE CENTRE.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1001 MB OR 29.56 INCHES.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT 11 AM.

FORECASTER JALEEL JACOBS

THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE 5 AM TROPICAL ALERT STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES ON THURSDAY, 22 JUNE 2023.

AT 5 PM, THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM BRET WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.4 NORTH, LONGITUDE 59.6 WEST OR ABOUT 256 MILES SOUTH OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND 416 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
TROPICAL STORM BRET IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 16 MILES PER HOUR AND THIS GENERAL MOTION WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME GRADUAL WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTRE.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB OR 29.59 INCHES.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT 11 PM.

FORECASTER LORNE SALMON

For the full situation report please click HERE: http://dmca.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Information-Note-1-Tropical-Storm-Bret-June-22-2023.pdf

THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE 5 AM TROPICAL ALERT STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES ON THURSDAY, 22 JUNE 2023.

IT STATES THAT BRET IS NEARING THE WINDWARD ISLANDS AND IS EXPECTED TO BRING STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN TO A PORTION OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

AT 11 AM, THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM BRET WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE 57.7 WEST OR ABOUT 309 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND 484 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.

TROPICAL STORM BRET IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MILES PER HOUR AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN INTENSITY IS FORECAST TODAY AND SOME WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN TONIGHT OR FRIDAY AFTER BRET PASSES THE ISLANDS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTRE.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 999 MB OR 29.50 INCHES.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT 5 PM TODAY.

FORECASTER LORNE SALMON