Published 23rd August 2020, 10:51pm

THIS IS A SEVERE WEATHER BULLETIN

PREPARED BY THE CAYMAN ISLANDS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

10pm August 23th 2020, Tropical Laura Bulletin 2.

At 10 pm Tropical Storm Laura was located near Latitude 20.1 North… Longitude 76.6 West or about 209 miles east-northeast of Cayman Brac and 316 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman. The storm is moving towards the west-northwest near 21 mph with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. On this track Tropical Storm Laura is expected to be at its closest point of approach near 100 miles north-northeast of Cayman Brac by around 6 am tomorrow, Monday August 24th.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS MAINTAINS A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN PLACE FOR THE SISTER ISLANDS.

Conditions expected over the Sister Islands:

The latest forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, suggests that Tropical Storm Laura will track slightly closer to the south coast of Cuba. This projection lowers the possibility of the Sister Islands experiencing Tropical Storm force winds ever so slightly. Wind direction is expected to be from the north tonight, backing towards south-southwest near 20 to 25 knots, south-southeasterly by afternoon and becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 knots by tomorrow evening. Higher gusts nearing 35 knots are likely especially through tomorrow afternoon.

Moderate to locally heavy showers are expected from tonight through tomorrow evening as Tropical Storm Laura moves along the south coast of Cuba. Rainfall accumulation estimates between 2 to 4 inches with a localized maximum of 6 inches of rainfall could occur over the Sister Islands during the next 24 hours and FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS LIKELY. Residents in these low-lying areas should take the necessary precautions.

Seas conditions over the Sister Islands are expected to be slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet through early night, becoming rough with wave heights of 6 to 8 feet tomorrow morning and subsiding with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet by tomorrow evening. ALL MARINE INTEREST OVER THE SISTER ISLANDS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOUR AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL AT LEAST TOMORROW EVENING.

Conditions expected over Grand Cayman:

Over Grand Cayman, conditions are expected to be bit more subdued with Tropical Storm Laura expected to pass about 169 miles north-northeast of Grand Cayman at its closest point of approach at around 10 am tomorrow morning. The winds direction is expected to be northwesterly tonight, backing towards the southwest at 15 to 20 knots with higher gust by tomorrow morning, becoming southerly 15 to 20 knots by tomorrow evening. Higher gust are also likely in and around heavy showers.

Rainfall estimates for Grand Cayman suggest accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are likely through tomorrow evening. Showers may be locally heavy at times.

Seas off Grand Cayman are expected to be slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet and become rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet in and around heavy showers over the next 24hrs. While the risk to marine interests in Grand Cayman might be low at this time, extra caution should be taken through the next 24hrs.

The next bulletin will be issued at 4 am tomorrow.

FORECASTER

Powery