Hurricane watch still in effect for Barbados and St. Vincent

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A Hurricane watch remains in effect for Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines as Tropical Storm Gonzalo moves towards the west at 14 miles per hour.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. 

A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre, in its bulletin issued at 11:00 am, said interests in the Windward Islands should monitor the progress of this system and additional watches or warnings will likely be required for some of these islands later in the day on Thursday.

The centre of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 9.6 North, longitude 48.3 West. 

An increase in forward speed is expected through the weekend and on the forecast track, the centre of Gonzalo will approach the southern Windward Islands Friday night and move across the islands Saturday and Saturday evening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 miles per hour with higher gusts and some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.

Gonzalo is currently a small storm but the system could become a hurricane by Thursday or  Friday.

Meanwhile, in Barbados, boat owners have been advised to secure their vessels immediately.

Owners of small craft that can be moved manually have been advised to remove gear and vessels from the water.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season ends on November 30.

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