Well, we’ve just started to get over Hurricane Irene and clean up the damage and we already have the next storm brewing. Tropical storm Katia is still quite a ways from the Dominican Republic and it is not certain whether it will get very close but it gives us something to watch. While we have reached the hurricane season in the DR there is no reason to get too excited about most of these storms, most blow over pretty quickly with little damage.
Katia is about 535 miles west by southwest of Cape Verde and will take around 5 days to reach us if it keeps it current speed and course. While tropical storm Katia only has sustained winds of about 40 mph right now it is expected to be strengthen over the next few days. Right now there is a 20-30% chance of Katia reaching hurricane force. The National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center is publishing their report here
August 31st, 2011 at 5:46 am
Katia is now at 65 mph and getting stronger (5am ast report) . The think it could reach hurricane force later today. Central pressure at 994 and the tropical storm winds are reaching our 85 mile from the center.
still a long ways from reaching any of the islands, it is currently 985 miles from the southernmost Cape Verde islands
August 31st, 2011 at 4:42 pm
The 5pm AST report makes the statement “Katia is almost a Hurricane”. Although it is still to far away from any coast to be of real concern at this time. Maximum sustained winds are about 70 mph and moving wnw at 20 mph.
The storm is both increasing in strength and widening with the tropical storm force winds extending outward 125 miles.
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:22 am
from 5am ast update
“HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
SURF…SWELLS GENERATED BY KATIA ARE AFFECTING THE LESSER ANTILLES.
THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP
CURRENT CONDITIONS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER
OFFICE.”
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Katia is still traveling well north of the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. It is expect that Bermuda may start seeing increased swell, rip currents and surf.
September 4th, 2011 at 8:56 am
the 11 am ast report today said that katia rapidly intensified into a cat 2 hurricane. Still not close enough to land to cause and real damage besides an increase in swell and rip currents and that is only affecting the Northern Lesser Antilles islands.