Tropical Storm Philippe to Pass Over Leeward Islands, Antigua and Barbuda on Alert

BRIDGETOWN – Tropical Storm Philippe is on track to pass near the northern Leeward Islands later on Monday with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (mph) with a tropical storm watch remaining in effect for Antigua and Barbuda.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that the storm is located about 125 miles east south east of Barbuda and could bring heavy rains and flooding to portions of the Leeward Islands.

While the tropical storm watch remains in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, the NHC said interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system that is moving towards the northwest near seven mph.

The NHC said that this motion is expected to continue through early Tuesday and a turn towards the north-northwest is forecast to occur by late Tuesday, followed by a northward motion on Wednesday.

“On the forecast track, the centre of Philippe is expected to pass near or just northeast of the northern Leeward Islands later today and tonight,” the NHC said, adding that little change in strength is forecast during the next day or so, but Philippe could begin to intensify more significantly around the middle of the week.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles primarily east and southeast of the centre and Philippe is forecast to produce four to six inches of rainfall over Antigua and Barbuda and two to four inches over the rest of the Leeward Islands.

“Swells generated by Philippe will affect portions of the Atlantic coasts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through midweek. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the NHC warned. (CMC)