WEATHER UPDATE – Potential Tropical Cyclone # 2

There are no tropical storm watches or warnings in effect for Barbados.

However the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) says “excess rainfall, severe thunderstorm and wind alerts remain elevated to yellow level for today, Tuesday 28th June 2022”.

“This means that the public should be aware that there is the possibility of adverse weather conditions on Tuesday,” the BMS stated.

A small craft warning remains in effect for above normal swells (2.5 to 3.0m) primarily for the eastern and southern coasts of Barbados up until 6 p.m., Wednesday 29th June, 2022.

Potential Tropical Cyclone #2 continues to struggle to get itself better organised.

At 5a.m the system was centered near 9.3N 55.2W or about 650 km (400 miles) southeast of Barbados.

The system remains disorganised and convection has been sporadic throughout the night as it continues to track westward with an increase in forward speed near 20 mph (31km/h). Conditions appear favourable for further slow development and a tropical depression could form during the next few days as the center tracks well south of Barbados.

Meantime the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) reported that tropical storm warnings are in effect for Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and its dependencies while tropical storm watches are in effect for Bonaire and the coast of Venezuela from Pedernales to Cumana, including Islas deMargarita, Coche, and Cubagua.

Interests elsewhere in the Windward Islands, the northern coast of Venezuela, Curacao, Aruba, and the northeastern coast of Colombia should monitor the progress of this system, it said.

According to the NHC the poorly defined disturbance was centered near latitude 9.3 north, longitude 55.2 west at 5 a.m. The system is moving toward the west near 23 mph (37 km/h). A westward or west northwestward motion is expected through Thursday. On the forecast track, the system will pass near or over portions of the southern Windward Islands by tonight, and move over the southern Caribbean Sea or near the northern coast of Venezuela on Wednesday and Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Slight strengthening is forecast during the next few days if the disturbance remains over water.

The Potential Tropical Cyclone is expected to produce heavy rain across the southern Windward Islands and the northeastern coast of Venezuela starting tonight into Wednesday.

The following storm total rainfall amounts are expected: islands from Guadeloupe to St Lucia: 1 to 3 inches; St Vincent, the Grenadines, and Barbados: 3 to 5 inches; Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and northeastern Venezuela: 4 to 6 inches.

The next advisory is at 8 a.m.