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Tropical Storm Watch

Published 7th September, 12:26pm

Hurricane Ike Update: 7am Sunday, 7 September 2008

From Hazard Management Cayman Islands' Joint Communications Service

All times are LOCAL.

Key messages

  1. The Hazard Management Council, in consultation with the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, has placed the Cayman Islands under a Tropical Storm WATCH as of 7am today (Sunday, 7 September).

  2. Hurricane Ike remains an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 135 mph.

  3. While the 4am NHC update has all three islands outside the cone of projected paths, this simply means that the islands are currently not expected to experience a direct hit by Hurricane Ike. It does not mean that the islands are not expected to be impacted at all; residents should NOT take this to mean that the system no longer poses a threat to the Cayman Islands.

  4. Based on the 4am update, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are expected to experience gusty winds of 20-30mph tomorrow afternoon and evening (Monday, 8 September). A slightly more westerly or southerly change in the projected path could easily place CYB and LCM, in particular, at risk of TS-force winds. This system remains a definite threat to all three islands.

  5. According to the 7am report from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the centre, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 145 miles.

  6. At 7am the centre of Hurricane Ike was located near 21.0 N 72.8 W, or 462 miles northeast of the Sister Islands, and 569 miles northeast of Grand Cayman. Ike is moving just south of due west, near 14 mph.

  7. Residents are urged to monitor the progress of the system. Listen to local media for weather reports from the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, and reports from the Hazard Management Council.

  8. Residents should remain poised to take additional precautionary measures if so advised.

  9. Unless there are significant developments today (Sunday), the next statement from the Hazard Management Council will be issued after the 4pm update from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.

For further information contact: Angela Piercy