In Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, the population is preparing for the arrival of a tropical storm. About 1000 kilometers east-southeast of the islands there is still a low pressure area that is very likely to develop into a tropical storm. The system will then be given the name Bonnie and is expected at the ABC islands on Wednesday evening and in the night to Thursday.
Because a pre-warning for a tropical storm and rough seas has been issued, both the government in Curaçao and Aruba have scheduled a press conference on Monday evening. On Bonaire, the government has issued a special warning.
People asked to prepare
The residents of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire have been asked to prepare for heavy rainfall, strong winds and a rough sea. In concrete terms, this means: sufficient food and drinking water at home, just like candles or a flashlight. People are also being asked to ensure that their homes and gardens are in order, so that no loose items can blow around and cause damage.
The ABC Islands are located outside the hurricane belt in the Caribbean. In the past, the islands have been hit by severe tropical storms, but never by severe hurricanes such as the Windward Islands of Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The last hurricane to hit the ABC Islands was in 1877.
Also read: number of cyclones (hurricanes) is decreasing, intensity is increasing
More details about the forecast
The low pressure area is located north of Suriname and now has a wind force 8 with heavy gusts of wind up to about 85 km/h. She moves west and is expected to increase in strength. In the course of the day, the system will most likely be renamed Bonnie.
A tropical storm warning applies to Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada. A tropical storm watch applies to Bonaire and parts of Venezuela. This does not yet apply to Curacao and Aruba, but this will come later today.
Tropical storm ‘watch’ means storm conditions are expected within 48 hours. If this is within 36 hours, the ‘watch’ becomes a ‘warning’.
In addition to a lot of wind, the system also brings a lot of rain. Where the warning applies, precipitation amounts of 100 to 150 mm are expected.
The forecast also indicates that it could develop into a category 1 hurricane late on Thursday or Friday. A hurricane is wind force 12 and in this case wind gusts are expected up to 150 km/h.
This expectation will become uncertain during this period, both in terms of strength and location. The average expectation will then see the system make landfall in eastern Nicaragua, causing a sharp decline in strength.
Read everything you want to know about hurricanes.
