NHC Declares Watch

Published 18th August, 10:49am

As Hurricane Dean races across the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands Alert issued yesterday by the National Hurricane Committee (NHC) was upgraded to a Watch at 10:00am today (Saturday). Watch status indicates that the Islands could begin experiencing storm or hurricane conditions within the next 36 hours.

The latest update from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami issued at 10:00am local (Cayman) time indicates that Hurricane Dean is located near latitude 15.7 north...longitude 68.6 west or about 565 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Dean is moving toward the west near 17 mph...28 km/hr. A general west to west-northwest motion is expected during the next 24 hours on this track.

Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph...240 km/hr...with higher gusts. Satellite images suggest that Dean might have weakened a little during the past few hours, but remains a dangerous Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. According to the National Hurricane Centre, some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next 24 hours.

NHC advice to local population: As a result, all interests are urged to continue their preparedness and to monitor news reports closely. NHC subcommittees have placed members on alert, and the public is advised to finalize their hurricane preparedness TODAY.

Details of Weather System:

Longitude: 68.6

Latitude: 15.7

Proximity: 565 miles (990km) east-southeast of Jamaica

Speed of system and direction of movement: westerly near 17 mph (28 km per hour)

Maximum sustained wind speed: near 150 mph (240 km per hour)

Gusts: Higher

Further information: Next update will be at 12:00 noon.

For further information contact: Prudence Barnes