Tropical Storm Tomas is travelling through the Caribbean and is expected to hit Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic by Saturday 6th November 2010. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, issued the following advisory:
0900 UTC Tuesday November 2nd 2010
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Interets in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic should monitor the progress of Tomas.
Tropical Storm center located near 13.5N 72.0W at 02/0900Z
Position accurate within 15 Nautical Miles.Present movement toward the West or 270 degrees at 10 Knots
Estimated minimum central pressure 1003 MB
Maximum sustained winds 45 knots with gusts to 55 knots.34 KT…….100NE 40SE 0SW 40NW.
12 FT SEAS..180NE 60SE 60SW 180NW.Winds and seas vary greatly in each quadrant. Radii in nautical miles are the largest radii expected anywhere in that quadrant.
FORECAST VALID 02/1800Z 13.7N 73.1W
MAX WIND 50 KT…GUSTS 60 KT.
34 KT…100NE 40SE 0SW 30NW.FORECAST VALID 03/0600Z 14.0N 74.4W
MAX WIND 55 KT…GUSTS 65 KT.
50 KT… 30NE 20SE 0SW 25NW.
34 KT…100NE 50SE 30SW 60NW.FORECAST VALID 03/1800Z 14.4N 75.3W
MAX WIND 60 KT…GUSTS 75 KT.
50 KT… 40NE 30SE 20SW 30NW.
34 KT…100NE 70SE 50SW 75NW.FORECAST VALID 04/0600Z 15.0N 75.8W
MAX WIND 65 KT…GUSTS 80 KT.
50 KT… 40NE 40SE 20SW 30NW.
34 KT…100NE 75SE 50SW 75NW.FORECAST VALID 05/0600Z 16.3N 75.2W
MAX WIND 80 KT…GUSTS 100 KT.
50 KT… 50NE 50SE 30SW 40NW.
34 KT…120NE 90SE 60SW 80NW.EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE…ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 200 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 250 NM ON DAY 5…AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAYOUTLOOK VALID 06/0600Z 19.0N 72.5W…INLAND
MAX WIND 70 KT…GUSTS 85 KT.OUTLOOK VALID 07/0600Z 21.5N 70.0W…OVER WATER
MAX WIND 60 KT…GUSTS 75 KT.Request for 3 hourly ship reports within 300 miles of 13.5N 72.0W
Next advisory at 02/1500Z
NGO’s in Haiti have begun moving those left homeless after the earthquake in anticipation of the storm. It is also thought that rain and floodwater from the storm could exacerbate the cholera outbreak which has affected the country of late.
Over the last 24 hours, United Nations mission in Haiti, along with the Haitian Government, has mobilized stocks and dispatched all terrain trucks with enough fuel for seven days to key logistical points along the Southern coast.
“This storm could not have come at a more difficult time,” said Nigel Fisher, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. “Although we have made some extensive preparations and prepositioned stocks across the country, some crucial supplies have been badly depleted by ongoing needs, particularly the response to the ongoing cholera epidemic.”
