Tropical Storm Watch discontinued; flooding still likely

Press Release – The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services has discontinued the tropical storm watch for the BVI.

At 2:00 PM, the center of Hurricane Jose was located near latitude 18.8 degrees North, longitude 61.9 degrees West. Jose is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph.

A continued northwest motion is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the core of Jose will continue to pass north of the northern Leeward Islands through this evening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher
gusts.

Jose is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Gradual weakening is expected to occur over
the next couple of days.

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 945 millibars.

Although the watch has been discontinued for The British Virgin Islands, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services said outer rain bands associated with Jose will still produce rainfall totals between 1-4 inches of rainfall which could still produce flooding and mudslides in some areas.

As a result, residents particularly in low lying and flood prone areas are advised to remain in a safe location and continue to monitor future reports from the met office until Jose clears the area.

Jose will result in cloudy to overcast skies, moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms across the Leeward Islands today. Hence flash flooding is likely to occur.

There is also a 70 percent chance of showers today. Tonight conditions will be cloudy with showers and likely chance of thunderstorms.

Sea conditions are rough with heights of 3.0 to 4.9metres or 10 to 16 feet. Mariners and beachgoers need to stay in Port.

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