GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) officially announces that Gonzalo is now a category 1 Hurricane located at 5:00PM 20 miles south east of Sint Maarten.
Residents should remain indoors until the hurricane clears the island.
The country is under a Hurricane Warning. Weather conditions have deteriorated. Hurricane conditions will continue to spread through the area tonight.
Schools are to remain closed on Tuesday. Ministry VROMI/Public Works after carrying out an assessment when weather conditions subside will then plan clean-up operations to clear any debris on the public road network.
Business owners/operators should use their discretion on Tuesday morning after assessing their business whether staff should report to work. Government employees are expected to report to work on Tuesday.
Hurricane Gonzalo at 5:00PM has 75 mile per hour winds with higher gusts, and further strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours. Gonzalo could become a major hurricane by Wednesday when it is located over the open Atlantic Ocean and is no longer a threat to the country.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 10 miles per hour; and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.
For weather updates visit the site of MDS at: www.meteosxm.com
ODM will continue to monitor the progress of the storm. Additional updates will be provided.
