In collaboration with St. Kitts Meteorological Services, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is monitoring 2 systems that are on track towards the Caribbean Sea, after having left the coast of Africa last week.
Currently, Invest 94L is the lesser threat, but the closer of the two systems to our Federation, being a mere 600 miles to the South East of St. Kitts and Nevis. As recent as last Friday, September 6th, Weather models would have predicted Invest 94L to become the season’s next named storm, however as of today, September 11th, predictions are no longer suggesting further development before it is forecast to move through the Leewards, perhaps on Saturday, 14th September.
Despite this slight modification to the earlier forecast residents and businesses are reminded that weather is dynamic and can change direction and intensity with little or no prior warning; and that erring on the side of caution is always preferred over being caught off guard. The best option is always to remain in a state of readiness, according to Deputy National Disaster Coordinator, Claricia Langley-Stevens, which increases our chances of recovering from impact, unscathed.
The second system, which has been categorised as the greater threat of the two clusters of bad weather, has the potential to become Invest 96L. It is expected to also approach our area by this weekend, and forecast to be approximately 2 to 300 miles to the South East of St. Kitts and Nevis, at that time.
Persons are encouraged to seek information ongoing via local media, St. Kitts Meteorological Services and the NEMA in order to remain informed in the event that this or any other system becomes an imminent threat to our Federation.
There is a likelihood that the future “Invest 96L” may begin to develop over the weekend, passing through the Caribbean island chain by Monday, 16th September.
Accordingly, residents are again reminded to be ready to activate family and business plans, to check your contact information for the emergency services as well as your District Management Teams, to ensure that your homes are prepared for any potential impact and to be ready to heed the call from NEMA and St. Kitts Met, in the event that urgent action should be taken.
Vesta I. Southwell
Public Relations Officer
11th September, 2019