Isaac Prompts Hurricane Watches for Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica

Isaac Prompts Hurricane Watches for Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica By Joe Pike, TravelPulse According to a National Hurricane Center advi...

Isaac Prompts Hurricane Watches for Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica

By Joe Pike, TravelPulse

According to a National Hurricane Center advisory issued at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, hurricane watches have been downgraded to tropical storm warnings for Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Antigua, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis.

According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours, while a tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area within 36 to 48 hours.

Original Text

The National Hurricane Center reported Tuesday afternoon that a hurricane watch is on for the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Dominica.

Isaac, a powerful storm that meteorologists are predicting will move near or over the central Lesser Antilles on Thursday, has also prompted tropical storm watches in Antigua, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis, according to a National Hurricane Center advisory issued at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the advisory, “Isaac is expected to be near hurricane strength when it moves through the central Lesser Antilles, with some weakening forecast afterward on Friday.”

Isaac is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of three to five inches with isolated amounts near 10 inches across the southern Leeward Islands late this week. One to two inches of rain is also anticipated across portions of the Windward Islands, according to the advisory.

“Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area by Thursday morning, with tropical storm conditions possible early Thursday in both the hurricane and tropical storm watch areas,” according to the advisory.

The National Hurricane Center also reported that swells generated by Isaac "are are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" and will begin to affect portions of the Lesser Antilles on Wednesday afternoon.