The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services in its 11 am Hurricane Sam Alert statement issued on Friday September 24, 2021, said on its forecast track, Hurricane Sam will likely pass a relatively safe distance northeast or north of the area Tuesday or Wednesday.
However, the Meteorological Services said they cannot rule out that there is a very low chance that Hurricane Sam could pass closer to the islands with minimal impacts.
Residents should monitor the movements of Hurricane Sam and be prepared to activate their Hurricane Preparedness Plans if a watch or warning becomes necessary.
Full statement below:…
HURRICANE SAM LIKELY TO PASS NORTH OF THE ISLANDS BUT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS…
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT MEANS THAT, IN THIS CASE, A HURRICANE IS IN OUR MONITORED AREA. WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME BUT MAY BE NECESSARY IN THE NEXT 72 HOURS.
HURRICANE SAM IS LIKELY TO PASS A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE ISLANDS, HOWEVER GIVEN THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF TROPICAL CYCLONES, THERE IS A VERY LOW CHANCE THAT HURRICANE SAM COULD PASS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE ISLANDS TO CAUSE MINIMAL IMPACTS WITH RESPECT TO WINDS, CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS AND ELEVATED SEAS. FOR THESE REASONS NO SPECIFIC ACTION IS REQUIRED OTHER THAN TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE SAM.
AT 11 AM, THE CENTRE OF HURRICANE SAM WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.8 N, LONGITUDE 43.7 WEST OR APPROXIMATELY 1350 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND MOVING WEST AT 14 MPH.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RAPID INTENSIFICATION IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE AND SAM IS FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE TONIGHT OR EARLY SATURDAY. ON ITS FORECAST TRACK, THE SYSTEM WILL LIKELY PASS A RELATIVELY SAFE DISTANCE NORTHEAST OR NORTH OF THE AREA TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY.
HOWEVER, WE CANNOT RULE OUT THAT THERE IS A VERY LOW CHANCE THAT SAM COULD PASS CLOSER TO THE ISLANDS WITH MINIMAL IMPACTS.
RESIDENTS SHOULD MONITOR THE MOVEMENTS OF HURRICANE SAM AND BE PREPARED TO ACTIVATE THEIR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PLANS IF A WATCH OR WARNING BECOMES NECESSARY.
THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED JUST AFTER 5 PM TODAY.
FORECASTER ORVIN PAIGE