Tropical Storm Philippe

…PHILIPPE BARELY MOVING……EXPECTED TO DRIFT AROUND EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDSTHROUGH THE WEEKEND…

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Interests in the northern Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of this system.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located near latitude 18.3 North, longitude 55.3 West. Philippe is moving very slowly toward the west-southwest near 2 mph (4 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Saturday night.  A gradual turn toward the west and northwest is forecast Sunday and Sunday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts.  Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next few days.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center.  The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

SURF:  Swells generated by Philippe will affect portions of the Atlantic coasts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin

Islands, and Puerto Rico through the weekend.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please consult products from your local weather office.

Tropical Storm Rina

…RINA MOVING SLOWLY NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD…  WATCHES AND WARNINGS——————–There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.  DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK———————-At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Rina was located near latitude 19.4 North, longitude 47.0 West.  Rina is moving toward the north-northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h).

A northwestward to west-northwestward motion, with an increase in forward speed, is expected during the next few days.  Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts.Little change in strength is forecast during the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening through early next week.   Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km)from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).  

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND———————-None.

September 26, 2023 – NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM PHILIPPE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6:00 PM TUESDAY 26^TH, SEPTEMBER 2023

…PHILIPPE REMAINS DISORGANIZED …

AT 5:00 PM AST, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM PHILIPPE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.1° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 51.3° WEST OR ABOUT 780 MILES EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

PHILIPPE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 13 MILES PER HOUR.  

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

PREPARED BY FORECASTER: P.W.

From the Turks & Caicos Department of Meteorology:

Synopsis: At 11 AM AST, the center of Tropical Storm Phillipe was located near latitude 17.3 North, longitude 50.3 West, or about 1387 miles east-southeast of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. Philippe is moving toward the west near 14 mph. A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days. Phillipe continues to struggle under strong shear which is not expected to let up over the next several days. This could potentially lead to a weaker system drifting westward towards the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Potential Impacts: Too early to know the level impacts Phillipe might have on the Turks and Caicos Islands as this is dependent on its track and intensity.

The Turks and Caicos Islands National Weather Service will continue to closely monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Phillipe. Stay tuned to updates coming out of the National Weather Service, twitter.com/tcinws and facebook.com/tcinws. Also, stay tuned to DDME social media platforms and the DDME Alert App for updates.

Dana Malcolm

 Staff Writer  

September 11, 2023 – Hurricane Lee has turned slightly from the original forecast path revealed last week, pushing it further away from The Caribbean and southeastern US and decreasing the possibility of landfall.

In addition to that welcome news shared by meteorologists on Sunday, wind shear across the Atlantic Ocean has slowed Hurricane Lee down and pushed it from a Category 5 to a Category 2 hurricane but they are warning residents not to let their guard down. After strengthening from Category one to five in under 24 hours last Thursday.  The twelfth named system, despite  recording a drop in intensity,  is expected to strengthen again in the next couple of days.

The system is forecast to pass near to the Northern Caribbean on Monday and adverse effects were already being reported by Sunday including very rough seas.

“Lee’s core is expected to pass well north of the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico during the next couple of days,” the National Hurricane Center explained.

Because of its proximity, dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are already affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and Bermuda.

The NHC says it is too soon to tell what effects Lee could have on the countries nearest to it as the hurricane is forecast to slow down later this week.

The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) in the Turks and Caicos is warning that locals should continue to monitor Hurricane Lee’s progress as the country will be negatively impacted in the coming week.