Update on Tropical Storm Erika - September 3, 2009
As at AT 11 AM AST, THE CENTER OF THE POORLY-ORGANIZED TROPICAL STORM ERIKA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.9 NORTH, LONGITUDE 63.5 WEST, OR ABOUT 100 MILES (165 KM) EAST-SOUTHEAST OF ST. CROIX, AND ABOUT 200 MILES (320 KM) EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO.
ERIKA’S MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH (65 KM/HR), WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS LIKELY DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. IT IS CURRENTLY MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH (13 KM/HR), AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS 1010 MB - 29.83 INCHES.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES (280 KM) PRIMARILY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER, AND THE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH ERIKA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE LEEWARD ISLANDS TODAY AND APPROACH THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. IT IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN LESSER ANTILLES, PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 8 INCHES POSSIBLE).
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR DOMINICA, GUADELOUPE, ST. MARTIN, ST. BARTHELEMY, ANTIGUA, BARBUDA, MONTSERRAT, ST. KITTS, NEVIS, ANGUILLA, ST. MAARTEN, SABA AND ST. EUSTATIUS. NEW WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR PUERTO RICO.
