Guadeloupe: Island under red alert for Hurricane Maria /update 1

Event

Hurricane Maria continues to strengthen as it enters the Caribbean region, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicting that the storm will become a become a major hurricane by the time it reaches the Leeward Islands. Méteo France, the French national weather service, has announced that Guadeloupe will be placed under red alert effective at noon (local time) on Monday, September 18. As of 01:00 on Monday, both Guadeloupe and Martinique were under orange alerts, the second-highest level.

The US National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane warnings for Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, and Martinique . Hurricane watches are in effect for Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, and both the US and British Virgin Islands.

There is a risk of the Hurricane Maria causing (further) damage to the Caribbean region, recent struck by another powerful storm, Hurricane Irma. Maria is expected to produce 15-30 cm (6-12 in) of rain through Wednesday evening, which could cause flash flooding and landslides. Many of the islands are still recovering from the destruction left by Irma. A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves could raise sea levels by as much as 1.5 to 2.1 m (5 to 7 ft) above normal tide levels in areas in the path of the storm.

Context

Earlier this month Irma, a Category 5 storm, struck a number of islands in the Caribbean resulting in major damage. Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy found themselves in the eye of the hurricane on September 6. Strong winds up to 300 km/h (185 mph), torrential rain, and large storm swells were produced. According to local reports, 95 percent of the French part of the island of Saint Martin was destroyed and damage on the Dutch side of the island was comparable. Conditions on Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy remain critical.

Advice

Individuals present in the Caribbean are advised to keep abreast of weather alerts, confirm travel reservations, avoid coastal and mountainous areas (risk of flooding and landslides), and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities.

Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult. Finally, because floodwater may also contain wastewater or chemical products, wear boots and try to avoid any contact with the water. All items having come into contact with the water should be washed and disinfected and foodstuffs disposed of.