Français
The only active hurricane in the Atlantic Basin, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Erin has reached a Category 5 intensity threshold, according to data from the National Hurricane Center and Météo France. "The system strengthened rapidly last night and this morning", confirmed Météo France's 12:02 pm bulletin. At midday, the center of Erin was located around 160 km north of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy. The hurricane is beginning to change direction, heading west-northwest at 28 km/h. "The islands to the north of the arc are likely to be most affected by the southern part of the phenomenon, and in particular by the bands of rain circulating on the periphery of the system, as well as the islands to the south of the arc.riphery of the system, as well as gusty winds and rough seas", says the Météo France bulletin. The main effects of the hurricane's passage will begin to be felt with greater intensity by mid-afternoon. The end of the "event" is forecast for tomorrow morning, Sunday August 17. Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin remain under yellow vigilance by Météo France for heavy rain, thunderstorms, wave-submersions and strong winds.
In an online publication, the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy "calls on everyone to exercise caution" and adds that "flight operations are suspended on Saint-Barthélemy". Air traffic from Juliana airport " may be disrupted". In its publication, the Collectivité invites passengers "to contact their airline for further information concerning their flights ".
Elsewhere in the basin, an area of low pressure off the coast of North Carolina is under surveillance, with a slight chance of strengthening into a cyclonic phenomenon over the next two to seven days.
Météo France forecast (12:02 p.m. bulletin)
Wave-submersions
From this afternoon onwards, the swell will turn south-westerly under the effect of the wind, with troughs of around 1m60 to 2m, which will maintain agitation to the south-west of Saint-Barth, placing heavy demands on anchorages and submerging the lower parts of the entire coastline. This agitation could persist until Sunday evening, or even Monday morning.
Heavy rain / thunderstorms
The rains will continue into the night, bringing heavy rainfall totals in a short space of time, of the order of 50 to 80 mm in 3 hours. Thunderstorm activity will also be significant. Rainfall totals for the episode could reach between 70 and 100 mm.
An improvement is expected on Sunday morning.
Wind
Southwesterly winds strengthen to an average of 50-55 km/h, gusting to 80/85 km/h as the stormy rain passes. They will then gradually weaken as they move southwards on Sunday morning.
Observed data
The heaviest precipitation remained at sea for most of the night, giving up to 85mm in 3 hours under the storms. Over the last 6 hours, 10mm of rain has fallen. Westerly winds averaging 55 km/h and gusting to 80 km/h.
