Hurricane Watch Leeward Islands Recon Irma 113 mph 958mb

IRMA SATELLITE LOOP

Hurricane Watch Leeward Islands Recon Irma 113 mph 958mb

An Air Force plane is flying through Irma now and found 113 mph winds and a pressure of 958 mb which is a bit stronger than the previous satellite estimates. It also appears that after a brief period of westward motion the west southwest motion appears to have resumed. Irma is now near 50 degrees west where water temperatures are warm There seems to be a little bit of shear going on as it reacts to an upper air low well to the northwest of Irma. Hurricane Watch is now posted for the Northern Leeward Islands

..HURRICANE WATCHES ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS…
…NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT EN ROUTE TO IRMA…

SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST…2100 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…17.6N 49.8W
ABOUT 790 MI…1275 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…115 MPH…185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 260 DEGREES AT 14 MPH…22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…969 MB…28.62 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Antigua has issued a Hurricane Watch for the
islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and
Nevis.

The government of the Netherlands has issued a Hurricane Watch for
the islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

The government of France has issued a Hurricane Watch for St.
Martin and Saint Barthelemy.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy

Interests in the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the British and
U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of
Irma. Additional Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches may be
required for portions of this area on Monday.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
——————————
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Irma was located
near latitude 17.6 North, longitude 49.8 West. Irma is moving toward
the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). A westward to west-southwestward
motion with some reduction in forward speed is expected through
Monday night. On the forecast track, the center of Irma is
forecast to approach the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher
gusts. Irma is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the
next 48 hours.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles
(220 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 969 mb (28.62 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by
Tuesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by late
Tuesday.

SATELLITE LOOP

Our weather continues to improve this evenign though there are still a few residual showers scattered on the radar. They should play themselves out in short order and skies overnight should start to clear. This will set us up for a nice Monday and Tuesday with sunshine both days and temperatures back into the 80s.