Stay away from the beaches

The Met Office has advised members of the public to stay away from beaches as the island braces for Tropical Storm Elsa. The department, in its 6:00 pm Weather Report, also advised small craft operators to remain in port, and urged residents and motorists in areas prone to flooding and landslides to take the necessary precautions.

The full report is reproduced below:

Forecaster: Vigil Saltibus

Present weather at Hewanorra Airport is cloudy and hazy.

Present weather at GFL Charles is partly cloudy and hazy.

Present temperature at Hewanorra Airport is 29°C or 84°F. 

Today’s maximum temperature at Hewanorra Airport was 30°C or 86°F.

Wind at Hewanorra Airport is blowing from the east-northeasterly at 22 mph or 35 km/h.

Rainfall in the 24-hour period that ended at 2:00 pm today:

At Hewanorra Airport: 2.0 mm           At GFL Charles: 5.0 mm

Total rainfall for the month of June:

At Hewanorra Airport: 74.5 mm          At GFL Charles: 169.7 mm 

Sunrise tomorrow: 5:39 am        Sunset tomorrow: 6:36 pm  

FORECAST FOR SAINT LUCIA VALID FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS

Winds will be blowing from between the east and northeast near 22 mph or

35 km/h, with a few gusts gradually becoming southerly by afternoon. The winds speeds are expected to gradually increase as the center of Tropical Storm Elsa gets closer to the islands.

Weather: Today, partly cloudy and hazy skies, with a few showers at first becoming increasingly cloudy to overcast with scattered moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms from late tonight.

Residents and motorists in areas prone to flooding and landslides are advised to take necessary precautions.

MARINE FORECAST FOR SEAS IN A 25 MILE OR 40 KM RADIUS FROM SAINT LUCIA

Tides for Castries Harbour: High at 09:45 pm…Low at 4:07 pm… High at 10:06 am

Tides for Vieux Fort Bay:   High at 10:52 pm…Low at 5:34 pm… High at 11:13 am

Seas: Moderate to locally rough 5 to 7 feet or 1.5 to 2.1 meters, becoming rough with 9 to 13 feet or 2.7 to 4.0 meters in northeasterly swells from tomorrow.

Small craft operators are strongly advised to remain in port. Residents are also advised to stay away from the beaches.

FORECAST FOR THE LESSER ANTILLES

Partly cloudy skies and hazy with scattered showers. From late tonight, over the southern Windward Islands, showers, most of which will be heavy, with gusty winds and thunderstorms.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

Tropical Storm Elsa will begin to affect the islands from early Friday morning.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SAINT LUCIA.

At 5:00 pm today the centre of Tropical Storm Elsa was located near latitude 11.2 N degrees north, longitude 53.8 degrees west or about 585 miles or 942 kilometres east-southeast of Saint Lucia.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph or 75 km/h, with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Elsa is moving towards the west near 29 mph or 46 km/h. An even faster motion to the west-northwest is expected over the next 24 to 36 hours. On the forecast track, the system will pass near Saint Lucia on Friday and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late Friday.

A tropical wave located over the central tropical Atlantic is moving westward near 15 mph or 24 km/h.

The alert level at the La Soufriere volcano in Saint Vincent remains at Orange.

Interests in Saint Lucia and the south-eastern Caribbean region are advised to continue monitoring official sources for updates.