Tropical Storm Karen forms, wind advisory in effect for Barbados

Article by Kobie Broomes

The strong tropical wave which were being monitored over the past couple of days, has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Karen.

The Barbados Metorgical Service (BMS) said,at 5:00 a.m today Tropical Storm Karen: was located near 11.9N 60.2W or about 100 miles 160 km south-west of Barbados. However the BMS said that Tropical Storm Karen does not pose a direct threat to Barbados.

The center of the system is already 100 mile to south-west of Barbados, however barbadians can expect brisk surface winds of 25 to 30 kt (45 to 55km/h) with frequent higher gusts, which were observed during the night, will continue to affect the island for at least another 6 to 12 hours.

Karen is packing maximum sustained winds of 40 Mph…65 km/h. The system is presently moving West North West or 285 Degrees At 9 Mph…15 km/h.

A wind advisory is now in effect. A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds of 25 to 33kt (47 to 61km/h) are affecting or forecast to affect the land area, in this case, within the next 12 hours.

Pockets of moderate to heavy showers are still anticipated across Barbados with rainfall accumulations of 25 to 75mm (1 to 3 inches) possible as the system tracks west-northwestwards into the Caribbean Sea. Tropcial Storm Karen has also been forecast to generate east-southeasterly to southerly swells of 3.0 to 4.0m (10 to 13ft) . Thus, a High-Surf Advisory and Small-Craft Warning also remains in until 6:00 a.m tomorrow.

A High-Surf Advisory is issued when breaking wave action poses a threat to life and property within the surf zone. A Small-Craft Warning means in this case, that wind-speeds of 25 to 30 kt (45 to 55km/h) and /or seas greater than 3m (10ft) will be affecting the marine area.

Tropical Storm Karen is forecasted to turn toward the northwest on Monday, followed by a turn toward the north on Tuesday. On the forecast track, Karen will move across the southern Windward Islands this afternoon and tonight, and emerge over the south-eastern Caribbean Sea Monday morning.