WEATHER UPDATE
2 pm EDT: Hurricane Ivan moves through
the Windward Islands
Hurricane Ivan: NOAA Visible Image
Hurricane Ivan: NHC 3-day Forecast Track
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
MIAMI, USA: According to the National
Hurricane Center in Miami, at 2 pm EDT Tuesday the eye of Hurricane Ivan was
located near latitude 11.9 north, longitude 61.2 west or about 35 miles
east-southeast of Grenada in the Windward Islands. Ivan is moving toward the
west near 18 mph. On this track, the eye of Ivan will pass near or over
Grenada shortly and then will move over the eastern Caribbean Sea.
Ivan is a dangerous category three hurricane
and the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 120 mph, with higher
gusts, in a very small area near the eye. Some strengthening is forecast
during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles
from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
Barbados has been reporting hurricane force
wind gusts for several hours. Ham radio reports indicate roofs being blown off
by winds on Tobago, St. Vincent and Grenada, as well as some structural damage
in Barbados.
Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above
normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be
expected near and to the right of where the center passes through the Windward
Islands. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 7 inches, possibly causing flash floods and
mud slides, can be expected as Ivan passes through the Windward Islands.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for
Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada and its dependencies.
Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
The hurricane warning for Trinidad has been
downgraded to a tropical storm warning. A tropical storm warning is now in
effect for Barbados, Martinique and St. Lucia and Trinidad.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Bonaire,
Curacao and Aruba.
Interests in the central and western
Caribbean Sea should closely monitor the progress of Ivan.
According to a Reuters report, Ivan ripped
off roofs and cut power across Barbados on Tuesday, lashing the island with
fierce winds but sparing it a direct hit as it roared into the eastern
Caribbean. The storm brought down trees and
power lines and hurled debris around. Some trees crashed into houses and over
roads. Part of the roof of a big fish market was ripped away.
Villagers in low-lying coastal areas on
Tobago were evacuated from their homes and taken to shelters early on Tuesday
morning as Ivan's heavy rains and winds moved in.
Schools and most businesses including the stock market and banks were closed
in the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which has a population of
1.1 million. On Monday, several energy
companies evacuated non-essential workers from offshore platforms, leaving
only essential workers to continue oil and gas production.
Local reports from Grenada indicated that heavy winds and rain were causing
extensive damage in several areas, with roofs being blown off and trees
uprooted. Power and telephone outages are widespread, with flying galvanised
sheets and other debris a serious hazard.
According to Max James of Channel 5 in Tobago, visibility there was minimal,
the wind is very strong with power down in many areas, poles breaking, trees
bent at over 40 degrees. Galvanised roofs were blowing off schools as well as
houses. Channel 5 is on Signal Hill and observed galvanized sheets being
ripped off the local school. Max’s own phrase was "peeling roofs off like
banana skins." Forecasters said Ivan was the
strongest cyclone to develop at such a low latitude in recorded Atlantic
hurricane history.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by
your local weather office.
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