Caribbean: Tropical Storm Isaac approaching the Lesser Antilles

Event

Tropical Storm Isaac was - as of 05:00 (local time) on Tuesday, September 11 - located approximately 1420 km (880 mi) east of the Lesser Antilles and moving in a westerly direction. According to the US-based National Hurricane Center, Isaac is currently forecast to continue moving towards the west before making landfall in the Lesser Antilles around Dominica overnight September 13-14. The storm will likely then continue to move west, passing to the south of Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

Heavy rain, strong winds, and infrastructural damages, as well as associated transportation, power, and telecommunication disruptions, are possible throughout the region in the coming days, e.g. on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, and Saint Lucia, as well as potentially in Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and Puerto Rico. No storm warnings or watches are currently in effect, but this will likely change in the coming days.

Context

The Atlantic season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the largest concentration of storms typically occurring between August and October. Researchers have predicted a slightly below-average hurricane season for 2018.

Advice

Individuals in the above areas are advised to closely follow local weather forecasts and adhere to any advice issued by local authorities.