Tropical Storm Paloma is expected to pass very close to Grand Cayman on Saturday as a hurricane.
The Cayman Islands Government issued a Hurricane Watch in relation to Tropical Storm Paloma for the Cayman Islands at 10am on Thursday. A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.
Forecast Eye Path |
Tropical storm-force winds are expected to impact Grand Cayman from Friday evening, according to a statement issued by Hazard Management Cayman Islands.
‘The unusual direction of approach means that most storm effects will be experienced along the southern coast of Grand Cayman and the Seven Mile Beach area,’ the statement advised.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami upgraded Tropical Depression 17 to Tropical Storm Paloma with 40mph winds at 4am Thursday morning. By 1am, Paloma’s winds had intensified to 60mph.
On the current official NHC forecast track, the centre of Paloma would pass less than 25 miles west of Grand Cayman Saturday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of nearly 100mph. However, some of the computer guidance models forecast a more rapid intensification and predict Paloma to be a major hurricane when it passes all three Cayman Islands.
A pass just to the west would put Grand Cayman on the ‘dirty side’ of the hurricane, where the strongest winds occur.
The National Hurricane Centre acknowledged the potential for Paloma to strengthen beyond a Category 2 storm based on favourable atmospheric conditions and warm sea-surface temperatures.
‘Rapid strengthening of Paloma is also possible with these conditions,’ the NHC said in an advisory Thursday morning. ‘There is certainly the possibility that Paloma would get stronger than shown in between official forecast times and it is is worth noting that [some computer models] still forecast the storm to be at or near major hurricane strength in the Caribbean Sea.’
The NHC forecast track as of Thursday afternoon would also bring Paloma within 46 miles of Little Cayman early Sunday morning and within 52 miles of Cayman Brac around later Sunday morning.
As of 1pm EST, Paloma was about 235 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and was moving north at 7 mph. A gradual turn to the north-northeast is expected Thursday night or Friday.
The storm was also expected to become a hurricane Thursday night or Friday.
Paloma is expected to bring an additional four to eight inches of rain on top of what had fallen through Thursday morning.
Cayman Islands National Weather Services Chief Meteorologist John Tibbetts said a marine advisory on Thursday would transition into a marine warning on Friday.
‘We’ll be asking all marine craft to be in safe harbour by Friday,’ he said.
Schools and government office closings
All government schools and some private schools will close on Monday, although government school teachers were asked to come to work on Friday morning to complete hurricane preparations. Teachers and other civil servants are to be let out of work early, once hurricane preparations are completed.
Pirates Week
All Pirates Week events schedule for this weekend have been postponed until next weekend, according to festival Executive Director Dave Martins.
‘That’s life in the tropics,’ Mr. Martins said.
Cayman Airways
Although the national flag carrier Cayman Airways did not announce any change in schedule through 2pm on Thursday, it did announce a ticketing policy change.
‘Change fees/penalties are being waived for all passengers ticketed on or before 5 November for travel 6 November through 12 November to or from any Cayman Airways gateway,’ the airline said in a press release. ‘Please note however, that only one change per ticket is permitted.’
Livestock preparations
The Department of Agriculture also issued a press release Thursday advising farmers to prepare their livestock for the storm.
‘Livestock owners should be aware that adult livestock – cattle, goats & horses – have instincts that will enable them to survive a hurricane provided that their movement is not physically restrained,’ the press release stated. ‘Move animals to high ground and turn them loose in pastures that are not affected by flooding or storm surge. This is particularly important for goats; the islands’ goat population suffered the heaviest losses due to drowning during hurricane Ivan.
‘Where possible, young livestock (two months old or less) should be securely penned with their mother, or otherwise turned loose in a safe and sheltered area that is not prone to flooding or storm surge.
‘Chickens and other domestic livestock should be placed in a safe cage, box or pen that is above possible flood level. Baby chicks, however, should be kept indoors in a warm dry place.’
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