Jerry Passing Just East of Barbuda; Storm Warnings Remain in Effect
Tropical Storm Jerry passed just east of Barbuda on Thursday evening as it continued its west-northwest track toward the northern Leeward Islands, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to parts of the region.
As of 8 p.m., the storm’s center was located near latitude 17.5 North and longitude 61.1 West—about 45 miles (75 kilometers) east of Barbuda—with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph (100 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 175 miles (280 kilometers) from the center.
Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, and nearby islands, while a Tropical Storm Watch is in place for Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, and St. Eustatius.
Forecasters said Jerry is expected to turn northwest later tonight, with a slightly slower northward motion Friday and Saturday. The system could bring 4 to 6 inches of rain across Barbuda and 2 to 4 inches elsewhere in the Leewards, raising the risk of flash flooding in low-lying and mountainous areas.
Swells generated by the storm are also producing dangerous surf and rip current conditions across the Leeward and Virgin Islands and are expected to reach the Greater Antilles in the coming days.
