Hurricane Jerry Could Move Near Bermuda Next Week
Hurricane Jerry is brushing the northern Leeward Islands with locally heavy rain and gusty winds. It could also threaten Bermuda next week, which is cleaning up after being battered by Hurricane Humberto.
At a Glance
• Jerry is likely to move north of the northern Leeward Islands, where tropical storm watches are in effect.
• Some of those islands could get brushed by outer rainbands producing locally heavy rain and gusty winds.
• Jerry could move near Bermuda next week.
Hurricane Jerry will brush the northern Leeward Islands Friday with locally heavy rain and gusty winds. Jerry could also threaten Bermuda next week which is cleaning up after being battered by Hurricane Humberto.
Jerry is centered more than 100 miles northeast of Anguilla in the northern Leeward Islands and is tracking west-northwestward.
Hurricane Jerry is weaker is still a Category 1 hurricane, moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/h).
On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass approximately 120 miles to the north of St. Maarten within the next hour. Effects of Jerry on St. Maarten is expected to be mainly in rainfall and sea swells throughout the night.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts.
Some weakening is forecast overnight, but Jerry could re-strengthen early next week.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).
Residents and the general public are advised to continue being alert and monitor the progress of Jerry.
The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten will continue to monitor and issue special weather bulletins.
Current Storm Status
(The highest cloud tops, corresponding to the most vigorous convection, are shown in the brightest red colors. Clustering, deep convection around the center is a sign of a healthy tropical cyclone.)
The center of Jerry is forecast to track north of the northern Leeward Islands today, then well north of Puerto Rico on Saturday. It's expected to be well east-northeast of the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday.
Tropical storm watches have been issued for the islands of St. Maarten/St. Martin and St. Barthelemy in the northern Leeward Islands. This means tropical-storm-force winds (39-plus mph) are possible this evening.
Watches and Warnings
(A watch is issued when tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. A warning is issued when those conditions are expected within 36 hours.)
Even though Jerry will track north of those islands, they could experience tropical storm conditions on Friday evening as outer rainbands rotate around the system.
Jerry is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches – with isolated spots receiving 4 to 6 inches – from Barbuda northwestward across St. Maarten/St. Martin, Anguilla, and Anegada. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flash flooding.
The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico can expect 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, with maximum totals up to 3 inches.
Jerry will most likely angle toward the northwest by late in the weekend, then toward the north and northeast early next week, according to the National Hurricane Center forecast.
Bermuda could be threatened by Jerry next week, but it's too early to determine what impacts the archipelago might see.
