Dean Reaches Sister Islands

Published 20th August, 12:27am

At midnight Sunday the Sister Islands were already experiencing tropical storm force winds with maximum sustained winds at 49 mph, which will continue until about midday tomorrow (Monday). Grand Cayman is expected to experience tropical storm force winds beginning after midnight tonight. On Grand Cayman, maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph are forecast to occur at sunrise Monday morning. Winds on Grand Cayman are expected to begin to abate by late tomorrow (Monday) evening.

This forecast, which shows a continuing favourable position for the Cayman Islands, is based on the 10 pm report from the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Dean continues to move toward the west near 20 mph and is expected to continue along this track over the next 24 hours.

At 10:00 PM the center of Hurricane Dean was located near latitude 17.6 north longitude 78.8 west or about 135 miles west-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 195 miles southeast of Grand Cayman.

On this track the centre of Dean will move away from Jamaica overnight and pass approximately 89 miles to the south of the Grand Cayman on Monday morning.

Dean remains a strong category four hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph with higher gusts .Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Dean could reach category five strength on Monday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.

In spite of the continuing favourable forecast for the Cayman Islands, extreme caution is advised, as the system has shown itself to be subject to fluctuations. Dean is an extremely dangerous category four hurricane. Maximum sustained winds at 10 pm were near 145 mph with higher gusts. Fluctuations in intensity are common in major hurricanes and are possible during the next 24 hours. Dean has the potential to become a category five hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Monday.

Based on current forecasts, storm surge of some one to three feet may be experienced at the south and south west and North Sound areas. The highest wave action is likely to be experienced first in the east coastal areas, followed by the southern coastal zones and on to the West Bay peninsula. The highest wave action could be up to 15 to 20 feet. Sister Islands should experience about 10 to 15 feet.

Rainfall is not expected to be high, with predictions of some one to two inches tonight through tomorrow night, gradually diminishing.

Further announcements will follow as the situation develops so everyone is urged to stay tuned to media channels.

For more information, log on to www.CaymanPrepared.ky

For further information contact: Pat Ebanks