KNMI issues tropical cyclone bulletin for Hurricane Isaac

Royal Netherlands Meteo­rological Institute KNMI issued a tropical cyclone bulletin pertaining to Hur­ricane Isaac, stating a code yellow warning was in ef­fect from Monday.

Hurricane Isaac is ex­pected to pass 220 to 240 kilometres (140-150 miles) south of Saba and St. Eu­statius on Thursday, Sep­tember 13. Track and devel­opment are still uncertain, which means uncertainty in wind speed, wave height and rainfall amounts as well, KNMI stated.

According to the weather bureau there is a 20 to 25 per cent risk of tropical storm force winds from Thursday afternoon and a 40 per cent risk of rainfall amounts of one to two inch­es on Thursday and Friday. During Thursday seas will increase to 15 feet from an easterly direction, gradual­ly diminishing on Friday to five to 10 feet from an east-to south-easterly direction.

During Thursday wind speed will probably in­crease to strong to near gale force, six to seven Beaufort, with gusts up to 50 miles per hour (around 80 kilometres per hour), KNMI stated.

From Thursday after­noon there is a risk of 20 to 25 per cent that tropical storm force winds will af­fect the islands with gusts up to 60 miles per hour (around 95 km/h). Wind direction will be east- to south-easterly.

Friday winds will become fresh to strong (5-6 Bft), still from an east- to south­easterly direction.

Seas will gradually start to increase from Thursday afternoon to around 15 feet from an easterly direction. Friday waves will diminish gradually to five to 10 feet, partly in south-easterly swells.

There is a 40 per cent risk that rainfall will be be­tween one and two inches on Thursday and Friday, according to KNMI.

Local authorities and resi­dents of Saba and Statia are advised to continue moni­toring the further progress of this weather system and to take all necessary mea­sures to safeguard life and property.

The Daily Herald.