Territories put on alert as storm approaches hurricane-hit islands
THE NATIONAL Hurricane Centre said Tropical Storm Maria was expected to approach the Leeward Islands today and was bringing winds of up to 50 mph.
The islands of Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat are on hurricane alert.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Norma is nearing Mexico’s resortstudded Baja California Peninsula, with forecasters saying it could approach waters southwest of the peninsula late on Sunday or early on Monday.
The region is home to the twin resort cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo and was hit about two weeks ago by Tropical Storm Lidia, which flooded streets and homes and killed at least four people.
The Baja California Sur government readied storm shelters and cancelled a planned military parade in the state capital, La Paz, amid Mexican Independence Day celebrations.
In the Atlantic, Hurricane Jose was moving slowly but far from land, but generating powerful swells that were affecting coastal areas in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the US southeast.
The Hurricane Centre added that tropical storm watches were possible for the US east coast later in the day and advised people from North Carolina to New England to monitor Jose’s progress, with lifehreatening rip-currents expected.
UK military personnel assisting British overseas territories ravaged by Hurricane Irma have revealed how affected residents on Grand Turk island are “really appreciative” of the help.
Last week the category five storm destroyed and damaged much of what was in its path as it made its way across the Caribbean.
One of the islands devastated by the hurricane is Grand Turk, where Royal Marines and Royal Engineers have been busy helping the community repair buildings and infrastructure.