This satellite tv for pc picture offered by NOAA on Monday, Oct. 2 2023 reveals Tropical Storm Philippe, heart proper. Philippe is threatening to unleash heavy rains and flash flooding within the Leeward Islands on Monday earlier than ultimately recurving out into the central Atlantic the place it may achieve hurricane standing round midweek, forecasters say. (NOAA through AP)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Philippe made landfall Monday within the tiny island of Barbuda because the erratic storm unleashed heavy rains and flash floods within the northeast Caribbean.
The storm was about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east-southeast of St. Martin on Monday night time. Prime sustained winds had been at 50 mph (85 kph) with increased gusts, and Philippe was transferring west-northwest at 7 mph (11 kph). The storm is predicted to ultimately spin north into the open Atlantic, the place it may strengthen right into a hurricane round midweek, forecasters say.
The dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda was anticipated to be slammed with the strongest winds and heaviest rains because the storm strikes away from the archipelago, forecasters mentioned. Faculties on each islands would shut on Tuesday, officers mentioned.
The storm moved a bit additional west than had been initially anticipated, with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology saying Philippe has not been a “well-behaved” storm or predictable in its trajectory. Initially, it was projected to hit Puerto Rico as a melancholy.
The storm pressured Antigua-based regional airline LIAT to cancel a number of flights and prompted officers to announce the closure of faculties on Tuesday within the French Caribbean territories of St. Martin and St. Barts.
Philippe was forecast to show north-northwest by late Tuesday after which north on Wednesday into open waters.
Rainfall quantities anticipated by Tuesday embrace 4 to six inches (10 to fifteen centimeters) for Antigua and Barbuda and a pair of to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) for the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the hurricane heart reported.
Heavy rainfall from Philippe additionally may produce remoted to scattered flash flooding throughout Antigua and Barbuda by Tuesday, in line with the advisory.
Officers within the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe warned of copious rains beginning Monday afternoon, with accumulation of as much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) in some areas.
Forecasters mentioned robust wind shear is predicted to forestall Philippe from strengthening in coming days, however shifting situations may enable it to turn into a hurricane later within the week.
Comply with AP’s local weather protection at: https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
