HURRICANE JERRY is forecast to produce heavy rains over the northern Leeward Islands on Friday.
Hurricane Jerry is currently churning through the Atlantic, whipping out winds of 105 mph. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) upgraded Jerry to a hurricane late on Thursday. Jerry is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph.
Where is Hurricane Jerry heading?
Hurricane Jerry is currently heading west-northwestward at 16 mph towards the Leeward Islands.
Currently located about 340 miles east of the islands, it is expected to close in on the area on Friday.
Although the core of the storm is currently expected to pass north of the islands, tropical-storm-force winds and locally heavy rainfall are possible.
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Hurricane Jerry path: The storm is heading for the Leeward Islands(Image: NOAA)
Tropical storm watches have been issued for a portion of the Leeward Islands.
NOAA said in its latest advisory: “Jerry remains on track and continues to move west-northwestward, or 295 / 14 kt.
“Over the next couple of days, the hurricane should continue this general motion with some slowing of forward speed as it moves along the southwestern periphery of a subtropical ridge.
“Thereafter, Jerry is likely to turn to the northwest, then north- northwest, and north as it moves through a weakness in the ridge.
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Hurricane Jerry path: The storm is expected to develop into a hurricane on Thursday(Image: NOAA)
Hurricane Jerry path: Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for portions of the Leeward Islands(Image: NOAA)
On Saturday Jerry is forecast to track north of Puerto Rico.
Jerry is the tenth named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season.
The powerful storm is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of one to two inches with maximum amounts of three inches across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Swells generated by Jerry are forecast to affect portions of the northern Leeward Islands by later on Thursday.
These swells are likely to cause “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions”, NOAA warned.
Hurricane Jerry path: The storm is moving northwest(Image: NOAA)
Watches and warnings
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for
- St. Maarten
- St. Martin
- St. Barthelemy
Saba and St. Eustatius
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
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