THAT’S ACCORDING TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES FOR MONTSERRAT AT 9:46 PM FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021…

TROPICAL DEPRESSION SEVEN MOVING QUICKLY WESTWARD…

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR MONTSERRAT.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE SPECIFIED AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM TONIGHT OR ON SATURDAY AS IT NEARS THE ISLANDS.

AT THIS TIME, IT IS MOST LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE A MODERATE TROPICAL STORM WHEN IT REACHES HOWEVER, THERE STILL REMAINS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE EXACT STRENGTH THEREFORE RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO IMPLEMENT THEIR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PLANS FOR A POTENTIALLY STRONG TROPICAL STORM. AT THE REASONABLE WORST-CASE SENARIO THE SYSTEM COULD POSE A MODERATE THREAT, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM STORM FORCE WINDS, HIGH SEAS AND MODERATE FLOODING RESULTING IN SOME DISRUPTIONS TO DAILY LIFE AND DAMAGE TO WEAK INFRASTRUCTURE.

AT 8 PM, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION SEVEN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.6 NORTH, LONGITUDE 53.1 WEST OR ABOUT 610 MILES EAST OF MONTSERRAT.

THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING QUICKLY TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 22 MPH (35 KM/H). A MOTION TOWARD THE WEST OR WEST-NORTHWEST WITH A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO MOVE OVER THE LEEWARD ISLANDS SATURDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH (55 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1010 MB (29.83 INCHES).BASED ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE SYSTEM WILL LIKELY AFFECT MONTSERRAT LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. SKIES WILL BECOME OVERCAST WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE SATURDAY AND INTO MOST OF SUNDAY.

RAINFALL TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES ARE ALSO LIKELY AND COULD LEAD TO FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD KEEP THIS IN MIND.

SEAS WILL DETERIORATE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE DEPRESSION AND COULD PEAK NEAR 2.8 METERS OR 9 FEET.

THEREFORE MARINERS SHOULD STAY IN PORT BEGINNING LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.

ALL RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE MOVEMENT OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION SEVEN CLOSELY AND ACT TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.FORECASTER LETITIA HUMPHREYS