A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SAINT LUCIA.

…MARIA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY TONIGHT OR EARLY TUESDAY.

AT 5:00 A.M. TODAY, THE CENTRE OF HURRICANE MARIA WAS NEAR LATITUDE 14.6 NORTH, LONGITUDE 59.5 WEST, OR  109 MILES OR 175 KM EAST NORTHEAST OF SAINT LUCIA. MARIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH OR 20 KM/H.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTRE OF MARIA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHERN WINDWARD ISLANDS LATER TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE TO NEAR 90 MPH OR 150 KM/H WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS, AND MARIA COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BEFORE IT MOVES THROUGH THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES OR 30 KM FROM THE CENTRE AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES OR 165 KM.

OUTERBANDS OF MARIA ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS, GUSTY WINDS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER SAINT LUCIA TODAY.

ROUGH SEAS GENERATED BY HURRICANE MARIA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT ST. LUCIA WITH WAVES AND SWELLS 9 TO 12 FEET OR 2.7 TO 3.7 METRES FOR THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. SMALL CRAFT AND LOCAL FISHERMEN ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND RESIDENTS ARE ALSO ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACHES.

PERSONS LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE VIGILANCE.

RESIDENTS OF SAINT LUCIA AND THE REST OF THE WINDWARD AND LEEWARD ISLANDS ARE ASKED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

REPEATING THE 5:00 AM. POSITION OF HURRICANE MARIA, LATITUDE 14.6 NORTH, LONGITUDE 59.5 WEST OR 109 MILES OR 175 KM EAST NORTHEAST OF SAINT LUCIA.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED AT 8:00 AM TODAY.

WEBSTER GAJADHAR

FORECASTER