On the heels of Hurricane Irma, which reached Category 5 strength on Tuesday morning, Sept. 5, Tropical Jose formed.
Tropical Storm Jose, the Atlantic 2017 season’s 10th named storm, has winds of 40 mph, and was moving west-northwest at 13 mph, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
It’s located some 1,500 miles east of the Lesser Antilles in the far-eastern Caribbean Sea.
“Jose,” the Center said, “should move toward the west or west-northwest for the next three to four days at a slightly faster rate of forward speed as it moves south of the deep-layer Azores-Bermuda high.”
“In about four to five days, Jose should turn toward the northwest and slow,” according to the NHC.
Hurricane Irma, meanwhile, is approaching the island of Antigua. V.C. Bird International Airport said it is shutting down Tuesday to seek protection from the powerful storm, The Associated Press reported. It said, “May God protect us all.”
Irma, said to have winds of 180 mph, is expected to pass north of Antigua and near Barbados on Tuesday night.
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
-Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis
-Saba, St. Eustatius and Sint Maarten
-Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
-British Virgin Islands
-U.S. Virgin Islands
-Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra
A hurricane watch is in effect for:
-Guadeloupe
The storm may hit Florida, and it prompted Gov. Rick Scott to issue a state of emergency on Monday afternoon.
Scott wrote:
“Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared. I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Hurricane Irma and current forecast models have Florida in Irma’s path—potentially impacting millions of Floridians. Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm.
In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared. This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape.”
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello warned residents, saying all decisions taken in the next few of hours could mean the difference between life and death.
States of emergency have been declared in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AP reported.
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