This tropical storm was
predicted previously by the French and American specialists.
The meteorological
phenomenon that has been monitored for a few days has turned into a tropical
storm this morning (1st July 2021), named Elsa.
It threatens in particular
the islands of the south of the Antilles, including Martinique.
According to the latest
bulletin from the Lamentin weather centre (Thursday 1 July 2021).:
The air mass behind the tropical
wave remains humid and relatively unstable, but temporarily calmer for the next
24 hours.
Another disturbance is
currently located around 1300 km south-east of Martinique.
It is evolving in an
environment that is favourable to its development as it moves towards the
west-north-west.
It has strengthened into a
tropical depression during the night and will reach the stage of tropical storm
ELSA this morning (1st July 2021).
It will cross the Lesser
Antilles on Friday, probably between Saint Vincent and Martinique, according to
the weather forecast.
Weather deterioration on Friday, 2 July 2021
Today, a relative lull is
taking shape with scattered and less intense showers.
The wind remains moderate
to fairly strong, with gusts of 50 to 70 km/h in general.
The new deterioration is
expected during the night and the day of tomorrow (Friday 2 July 2021).
The showers will become
frequent, sustained and locally stormy.
The wind strengthens with
strong and frequent gusts of over 100 km/h.
The sea will deepen,
becoming rough in the Atlantic and in the channels, with average waves close to
4m.
Collected Figures about the Tropical storm
- 100 mm in 24 hours over the northern Mornes;
- 62 mm in Saint Pierre;
- 60 mm in Saint Joseph.
- The wind gusted up to 99 km/h in Vauclin and 92 km/h in Fond Saint Denis.
- After the current tropical wave, storm Elsa will impact the islands of the Lesser Antilles
- Guadeloupe is currently under a yellow weather watch.
While a tropical wave is bringing us its share of rain
and thunderstorms, until the end of the afternoon.
A phenomenon closely
followed by another one, which will impact us from tomorrow: the tropical storm
Elsa.
The effects of the current tropical wave
According to the
forecasters of Météo France, the Guadeloupe archipelago, but also Saint-Martin
and Saint-Barthélemy, are being sprayed by a tropical wave.
It is gradually evacuating
into the Caribbean Sea.
At the back, it can still
drain thundery showers, even if they remain less marked and well-spaced.
Moderate electrical
activity accompanies the showers.
Rainfall totals were
relatively high. During the last 24 hours (1 mm = 1 litre per square metre):
- About fifteen millimetres on Les Abymes, Le Gosier and Sainte-Anne;
- About twenty millimetres in La Désirade;
- About thirty millimetres in Grand-Bourg de Marie-Galante;
- 40 to 50 mm on Capesterre-Belle-Eau and Goyave ;
- 40 to 60 mm on the Côte-sous-le-vent ;
- 100 mm in Matouba/Saint-Claude, Moderate electrical activity accompanied the showers.
At midday, the risk of
thunderstorms continues to decrease; sunny spells may even appear or become
widespread, especially on the Grande-Terre and Marie-Galante sides.
During the night, the
weather should be fairly calm, with rare and rather light showers over the
relief.
Elsa approaches
After the harmless Ana,
Bill, Claudette and Danny, whom passed very far north of our islands, here
comes Elsa.
The fifth hurricane of the
2021 season, whose trajectory will cross the arc of the Lesser Antilles,
between Dominica and Saint-Vincent Les Grenadines.
Elsa is located about 1400
kilometres south-east of our coast and is moving westwards at 41 km/h.
This system is
encountering favourable conditions for its development and is expected to
strengthen over the next few hours and become a strong tropical storm.
Guadeloupe will suffer
some effects of this tropical storm, whose wind speed is estimated between 63
and 88 km/h, for the moment.
It is expected that our
archipelago will experience stronger winds and deepening seas tomorrow, Friday
2 June 2021.
Martinique, Barbados,
Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will be more affected by this phenomenon.
