…A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN FROM 12:00 NOON TODAY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…
WEATHER:
Today through Friday morning: Partly cloudy to cloudy and breezy with scattered showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Forecast High: 31°C / 88°F Forecast Low: 26°C / 79°F
Sunset Today: 6:50 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:48 A.M.
SURFACE WINDS:
Today through Friday morning: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph and higher gusts.
SYNOPSIS:
An approaching tropical wave will cause cloudy periods, scattered showers and possible thunderstorms across the region during this forecast period. Meanwhile, the Atlantic high pressure system will continue to produce gentle to moderate winds.
Seas conditions are expected to deteriorate over the next few days. Small craft operators and sea bathers should exercise caution.
STATE OF THE SEA: Moderate WAVES/SWELLS: 5 to 8 feet
SPECIAL FEATURE: At 5:00 am, the center of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 10.0 North, longitude 47.0 West or about 1200 miles southeast of St. Maarten. The system is moving toward the west near 12 mph with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph and higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days and Gonzalo is expected to become a hurricane later today. This system is expected to pass well south of St. Maarten.
Gonzalo currently poses no direct threat to St. Maarten. The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten will continue to monitor the progress of this system and keep the public updated accordingly.
OUTLOOK through Saturday morning: Partly cloudy with isolated showers.
FORECASTER: Albert
