UPDATED WEATHER WATCH: Low Pressure System Moving Away from Sint Maarten

CARIBBEAN/SINT MAARTEN – The Low Pressure (LP) system is moving away from the island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.  According to the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS), weather conditions today-Friday through Saturday morning are forecast to be cloudy to overcast and breezy with isolated thunderstorms and scattered showers, some of which may be heavy.

Residents in some flood prone areas are advised to be vigilant as showers may be heavy at times.  A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for Sint Maarten.

The LP system according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 8.00am on Friday, August 22nd was located north of the Virgin Islands and remains disorganized.  Environmental conditions are expected to improve for further development once it nears the Bahama islands.

A tropical depression or storm is likely to form over the weekend (August 23, 24) or by early next week.  An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the LP Friday afternoon if necessary. 

ARCHIVE, August 21, 2014: The Low Pressure (LP) system is now located approximately 350 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and according to the National Hurricane Center, it is expected to become a Tropical Depression as it moves through the islands on Thursday night into Friday.

The LP is is moving west-northwestward at 15 to 20 miles per hour.  The islands of the Lesser Antilles could experience gusty winds and heavy rainfall Thursday night and Friday.  An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the LP on Thursday afternoon if necessary.

ARCHIVE, August 20, 2014: Two Low Pressure systems are currently churning in the central Atlantic Ocean east of the islands.  According to the NHC, one system show more potential for development at this point in time than the other one.

For the first system which is closest to the islands, NHC reports that gradual development is possible during the next few days while it moves west to northwestward at 10 to 15 miles per hour across the Lesser Antilles into the Caribbean Sea.

Residents and business community have been advised by the NHC in the Lesser Antilles and the northeastern Caribbean Sea to monitor the progress of the first low pressure system which is noted in the map as an orange X.

The second low pressure system is approximately 1000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.  Any development os this system will be slow as it moves towards the west to northwest at about 10 miles per hour.  Development of this system is not anticipated. 

ARCHIVE, August 17, 2014: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring a new Low Press system that is located midway between the Lesser Antilles and the Cape Verde Islands.  According to the NHC, any further development is minimal as of Sunday night, August 17.

Conditions could become more favourable for the system to develop a little further later in the week as the system moves slowly westward.