PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---Tropical Depression #4 (TD#4) formed on Thursday and is located more than 1000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
TD#4 is expected to become a tropical storm Thursday night or Friday morning and will be named Cindy. The system is expected to remain well east of the northern Leeward Islands where Sint Maarten is located through early next week.
Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson is calling on residents and the business community to remain vigilant and continue to monitor local weather reports from the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/ in connection with the latest weather system.
Tropical Storm Bret is no threat to Sint Maarten and is forecast to pass 260 miles south-southwest on Friday morning.
Bret is on a forecast track to move across the southern Windward Islands on Thursday evening and tonight, and then move westward across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea Friday and Saturday.
The remaining storm names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season are: Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, and Whitney.
The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and resources you need on how to prepare your family, home, or business for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.” The information here is also valuable for new residents.
Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairlady of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.
For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/
Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Remain vigilant and prepared!
The hurricane season runs through November 30.