The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service is advising that Tropical Storm Tammy has been upgraded to HURRICANE status but is not expected pose any threat to Trinidad and Tobago.
In its latest advisory, the Met Service says that as of 11 am today, the centre of Hurricane Tammy was located near 14.1ON 58.6OW, or about 385 km southeast of Guadeloupe.
Hurricane Tammy is said to be moving toward the west-northwest near 11 km/h, and this general motion is expected to continue through this afternoon.
An image showing the forecast for earliest reasonable arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds from Hurricane Tammy. [Image courtesy T&T Met Service]
The Met Service stated that a turn toward the northwest is anticipated by this evening, followed by a north-northwestward and northward turn on Saturday night through Sunday night.
On the forecast track, the centre of Tammy will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands tonight and on Saturday, and then move north of the northern Leeward Islands on Sunday.
The Met Service noted that data from a recent Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter mission indicates that maximum sustained winds are near 120 km/h with higher gusts.
A geocolour satellite image showing Hurricane Tammy (circled). A Hurricane warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis, as of Friday 20 October 2023. [Image courtesy NOAA]
Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 km from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 km.
The Met Service said a Hurricane warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
An infra-red satellite image showing Hurricane Tammy (circled). A Hurricane warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis, as of Friday 20 October 2023. [Image courtesy NOAA]
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Dominica, Saba and St. Eustatius Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, while a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barbados and Martinique.
The Met Service said there are currently no alerts, watches or warnings in effect for Trinidad and Tobago.
It said it will continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Tammy and will issue an update at 6:00 pm, or earlier if the situation warrants.
