JERRY NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH…
Location: Lat. 16.0 N ....Lon. 53.2 W
About: 670 miles ESE of St. Maarten
Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph ....110 KM/H
Present Movement: WNW...290 degrees at 16 mph…26 KM/H
Minimum Central Pressure: 995 mb....29.39 inches
AT 5:00 AM THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM JERRY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.0 NORTH, LONGITUDE 53.2 WEST OR ABOUT 670 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF ST. MAARTEN. JERRY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH (26 KM/H). A WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION AT A SLIGHTLY FASTER FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 70 MPH (110 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. JERRY IS FORECAST TO BE A HURRICANE LATER TODAY, WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH ANTICIPATED ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES (75 KM) FROM THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 995 MB (29. 39 INCHES). ON THE PRESENT TRACK THE CENTER OF JERRY IS EXPECTED TO PASS APPROXIMATELY 113 MILES TO THE NORTH OF ST. MAARTEN ON FRIDAY NIGHT. EFFECTS OF THIS SYSTEM WILL BEGIN ON ST. MAARTEN BY FRIDAY. RESIDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PUT PLANS IN PLACE AND CONTINUE TO BE ALERT AND MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.
THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF ST. MAARTEN WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SYSTEM AND ISSUE SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETINS.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR ST. MAARTEN:
Rainfall: Jerry is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 3 inches. Flooding and or rock slides will become possible in vulnerable areas. Residents and users of these areas are advised to exercise caution.
Winds: Tropical storm conditions are possible by Friday.
Seas: Swells generated by Jerry are forecast to affect the island later today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
