By Valencia Grant, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Release No. 286
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2017 (PRESS SEC) – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis advises residents to be vigilant and prepared – to prevent loss of life and minimize damage to property – as aTropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the Federation due to Hurricane Jose, which is expected to be near the northern Leeward Islands on Saturday.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
As at 8:00am today, Friday, September 8th, 2017, Jose was a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with maximum sustained winds near 125 miles per hour.
“Some slight strengthening is possible later today or tonight,” said the National Hurricane Center based in Miami, Florida.
The latest advisory said that hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
“We are not going to be experiencing hurricane conditions in St. Kitts and Nevis,” Mr. Elmo Burke, Senior Meteorological Officer, said this morning. “We are going to experience possible tropical storm conditions during Saturday afternoon into the night, and hence a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for St. Kitts and Nevis,” he added.
Mr. Burke also said that, “We are likely to see sustained wind speeds of 23 to 34 miles per hour, gusting up to 45 to 50 miles per hour in showers. Seas are expected to deteriorate, peaking at 12 feet or slightly higher. Rainfall estimates are two to four inches on average, with isolated maximums of 8 inches across the Federation.”
The Senior Meteorological Officer continued: “Although the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is not expected to experience hurricane conditions during the passage of Jose, residents should keep monitoring the advisories on the progress of Hurricane Jose until it moves away from the Federation and the threat has been discontinued.”
As Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris stated on national radio on Wednesday, September 6th, while giving his initial observations following the passage of Hurricane Irma, the public’s cooperation is essential and greatly appreciated by the St. Kitts-Nevis authorities.
Prime Minister Harris noted then that, “In essence, our people as a whole responded well to all of the advisories and information presented to them for their own safety and security. This high level of responsiveness helped to mitigate what could have been a catastrophe.”
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