Tropical Cyclone Alert Statement for September 28, 2023

WHCA31 TAPA 

TROPICAL STORM PHILIPPE ALERT STATEMENT 

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 7:00 AM ECT THU, SEP 28, 2023 

THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 

A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ANTIGUA  AND BARBUDA, THE REST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND THE  BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT MEANS  THAT A TROPICAL CYCLONE IS IN THE AREA OF CONCERN AND  WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED IN 18 TO 24 HOURS 

AT 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM  PHILIPPE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE  54.6 WEST. OR 542 MILES EAST OF THE ST. KITTS AND NEVIS. 

PHILIPPE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 5 MPH (7  KM/H). A SLOW WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TO WESTWARD MOTION IS  FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO, FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER  WESTWARD TO WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD MOTION BY THIS  WEEKEND.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH (85 KM/H) WITH  HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING  THE NEXT DAY OR SO, WITH SLOW WEAKENING FORECAST THIS  WEEKEND. 

TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175  MILES (280 KM)FROM THE CENTER. 

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB (29.59  INCHES). 

PHILLIPE CONTINUES TO MOVE SLOWLY BUT WITH HIGHER LEVELS  OF UNCERTAINTY IN HIS FORECAST TRACK AND STRENGTH. BASED  ON THE LATEST INFORMATION, PHILLIPE OR ITS REMNANTS COULD  BE NEAR THE NORTHERN LEEWARD DURING THE WEEKEND; IT IS  STILL UNCLEAR WHAT IMPACTS OTHER PROPAGATING  SWELLS COULD REALIZE FROM THE SYSTEM; THIS WILL  BECOME CLEAR IN TIME. 

AT THIS TIME, NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT; HOWEVER, RESIDENTS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BVI ARE  URGED TO CLOSELY FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF TROPICAL STORM  PHILIPPE AS QUICK ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED IF A WATCH OR  WARNING BECOMES NECESSARY.