Caribbean - Central America Weather

[Gustywind]

Here is the news i was related this morning on our local radio RCI (Radio Carib International). Looks like all the sources are not much clear about the exact number of people missing. But both have clearly identified that people are missing on the Northern Leewards Islands.

From our local and daily newspaper "France-Antilles"...
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx


Cyclone Gonzalo: no news of 4 people, in addition to the 3 missing
The authorities of the islands of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, swept away by cyclone Gonzalo tonight, are "no news" of four persons, in addition to three missing, announced on Tuesday the Minister of overseas, George Pau-Langevin. Fourteen people, including four "which there is absolutely no news", "subject to relief operations" at sea, offshore two islands in the North of the Caribbean, she said at a press conference at his Ministry in Paris. "We are a little concerned by what (...)" with regard to"these four people, the Minister said. The contact could be 'settled' with ten others. A person injured and stranded on a reef must also be rescued, she said.
Three people are already and already missing, "a man fell from his boat to Saint-Martin and two people who were trying to reach a boat to Saint-Barthélemy", for which "searches were impossible", had made it clear earlier in the day prefecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin.
There is however a priori no ground casualties.
Weather France after leaving Saint-Barthélemy, above which the eye of the storm passed, and Saint-Martin, Gonzalo "continued towards the Northwest at a speed of 20 km/h and should further strengthen in the next few hours to reach the stage of hurricane of category 3 within 36 hours".
The balance of the damage will be prepared in the next few hours, said Ms. George Pau-Langevin. The armed forces and means of the nearby islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique have been mobilized, and all will be implemented to "restore communications".
The State will initiate "the recognition of the natural state of disaster" and the "Emergency Fund" of the Ministry of it overseas will be put to work, she added.
The Minister will call in the day parliamentarians and leaders of local on-site to assess the needs and see "how to driving national solidarity".
The Minister, who had to go to Guadeloupe next week, will visit the Islands on this occasion, unless "the situation requires (it) go on the spot" earlier.

[artist]

the worst is over I think. I feel like I have been through a war.. the island really took a beating.
I think tomorrow we will find a lot of damage.
this hit us hard.
it felt like a cat 2 instead of cat 1..

So glad you are ok!

[artist]

First videos of Gonzalo hitting the Northern Leewards Islands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMrHiLS5NQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuTNRztKWA8

Thanks for your update, Gusty

[msbee]

Whew! Breathing a sigh of relief! That was some storm! I posted some pictures on stormcarib.

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/curre ... rtin.shtml

Shocked to hear the news of people missing from Gustywind. I had not heard that.
I have not been able to get out my door let alone leave the house.
We are busy cleaning up today.
Gonzalo was no little cat 1 storm when it came through here. We definitely had CAT 2 winds at our house.

Hoping everyone is OK in the other islands.

[Gustywind]

First videos of Gonzalo hitting the Northern Leewards Islands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMrHiLS5NQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuTNRztKWA8

Thanks for your update, Gusty

thanks as i love my neighbords i'm better when all of them are informed included my friend Artist

[cycloneye]

Whew! Breathing a sigh of relief! That was some storm! I posted some pictures on stormcarib.

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/curre ... rtin.shtml

Shocked to hear the news of people missing from Gustywind. I had not heard that.
I have not been able to get out my door let alone leave the house.
We are busy cleaning up today.
Gonzalo was no little cat 1 storm when it came through here. We definitely had CAT 2 winds at our house.

Hoping everyone is OK in the other islands.

Good to see that you made it fine.But it looks by the Gusty reports that things are bad where you are. My prayers go to the families of those who may have died. I would like to see if we can get reports from Anguilla,Tortola and St Barts that also got it strong.

[Gustywind]

Whew! Breathing a sigh of relief! That was some storm! I posted some pictures on stormcarib.

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/curre ... rtin.shtml

Shocked to hear the news of people missing from Gustywind. I had not heard that.
I have not been able to get out my door let alone leave the house.
We are busy cleaning up today.
Gonzalo was no little cat 1 storm when it came through here. We definitely had CAT 2 winds at our house.

Hoping everyone is OK in the other islands.

GLAD TO SEE YOU Barbara
Yeah sad news from guadeloupe's medias, we should have more at 12 AM. You have experience a real hurricane not so close from a 2,5 given many reports and datas of Meteo-France. Gusts have been reported close to 204 km/h!

At Saint-Martin Grand - Case:

Between 6 PM and 7 PM, average wind 88 km/h, gusts 151 km/h.

No data available since 8 PM. Between 9 PM and 10 PM, average wind estimated at 130 km/h, gusts to

160 km/h.

Accumulation of rain in 3 hours (between 5 PM and 8 PM): 74 mm.

Sea: waves estimated at 4 meters 50-6 meters at the height of the episode between 5 PM and 11 PM

Note that Meteo-France Guadeloupe made an estimation because of the weather station were down... we could imagine that average winds were blowing close to 150 or 160km/h with gust much higher.

[Gustywind]

Whew! Breathing a sigh of relief! That was some storm! I posted some pictures on stormcarib.

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/curre ... rtin.shtml

Shocked to hear the news of people missing from Gustywind. I had not heard that.
I have not been able to get out my door let alone leave the house.
We are busy cleaning up today.
Gonzalo was no little cat 1 storm when it came through here. We definitely had CAT 2 winds at our house.

Hoping everyone is OK in the other islands.

Good to see that you made it fine.But it looks by the Gusty reports that things are bad where you are. My prayers go to the families of those who may have died. I would like to see if we can get reports from Anguilla,Tortola and St Barts that also got it strong.

Yeah Cycloneye, i will try to have more infos, i've have more i will keep you informed.

[artist]

http://www.caribbean360.com/news/antigu ... high-winds
here is a little news from Antigua

[Gustywind]

I forgot to post this good news for Guadeloupe. Concerning Guadeloupe and TS GONZALO, remember... no report of death but only marginal damages in Guadeloupe except for some boats, some branchs and trees down and minor very localized floodings.


A little of topic, good news for Guadeloupe as a young boy of 14 years were missing Sunday during the yellow alert.


http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 97900.html



Leo, found unharmed after a day of research

Julien Babel
Posted on 13/10/2014. 16:59, last updated 13/10/2014. 17:14

The 14-year-old boy went hiking with his family and friends despite the yellow vigilance that was then underway Sunday. It disappeared on the trace of wood banana hot Ravine area in Lamentin. Relief finally found him safe and sound.

Leo disappears Sunday
A group of about fifteen people made a hike to the cascade of wood banana Sunday 12 October.
On the way back the teenager takes advance on the group. His family and his friends arrive finally at the point of gathering and find that it is not.
They seek him a moment before alerting the police.


Therefore research device
35 gendarmes, 9 firefighters, a master dog, and 3 members of the national park of Guadeloupe and the Office of the forest then conduct research. They are supported by civilians, and a helicopter.
The research stopped at 9 PM on Sunday evening, resumed the next day at dawn.


Found safe and sound
Weather conditions complicate the smooth running of the research but the teenager will eventually found unharmed in mid afternoon, Monday. He will have spent more than a day lost in the woods.
It has immediately been supported to precisely determine its state of health.

[artist]

Whew! Breathing a sigh of relief! That was some storm! I posted some pictures on stormcarib.

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/curre ... rtin.shtml

Shocked to hear the news of people missing from Gustywind. I had not heard that.
I have not been able to get out my door let alone leave the house.
We are busy cleaning up today.
Gonzalo was no little cat 1 storm when it came through here. We definitely had CAT 2 winds at our house.

Hoping everyone is OK in the other islands.

Unbelievable, msbee.

[Gustywind]

BREAKING NEWS

ELECTRIC NETWORK

More infos concerning the electric network...

Source: Daily newspaper France-Antilles Guadeloupe

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx

6 000

Following the passage on the Northern Leewards Islands of hurricane Gonzalo on the evening of Monday, several areas of the two islands were without electricity.
At 830 AM yesterday, EDF* estimated 6,000 the number of clients not replenished, 2,000 in Saint-Barthélemy and 4,000 in St. Maartee.
At the end of containment (grey vigilance) EDF teams are on the ground to make the repairs and reinforcements Guadeloupe were preparing to join those already on the spot. At 10 AM yesterday, EDF estimated at 2,600 non starved–refed customers, 600 in Saint-Barthélemy and 2,000 in Saint Martin. EDF reiterated that it is strictly forbidden to touch electrical cables, even on the ground. «If a cable poses a threat, notify it to our services.»

*EDF (Electricité de France): is the name of our electric network.

[Gustywind]

Whew! Breathing a sigh of relief! That was some storm! I posted some pictures on stormcarib.

http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/curre ... rtin.shtml

Shocked to hear the news of people missing from Gustywind. I had not heard that.
I have not been able to get out my door let alone leave the house.
We are busy cleaning up today.
Gonzalo was no little cat 1 storm when it came through here. We definitely had CAT 2 winds at our house.

Hoping everyone is OK in the other islands.

Unbelievable, msbee.

Those pics are really awesome. When you see the trees you understand perfectly what happened !!! I highy suspected that this feature was at least a minimal cat 2 cane but... know the sad story...

[Gustywind]

From another newspaper...


http://www.infoantilles.com/actualite.asp (french version)

Gonzalo has done damage at sea


The hurricane that swept through the Northern Leewards Islands evening and during the night surprised a part of the population who did not expect such violence of the winds. Several people are missing and many boats were sunk.


Most of the citizens of the Northern Leewards Islands expected a big storm, it is ultimately a hurricane with gusts higher than 200 km per hour that swept several hours Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy from Monday evening. The greatest damage occurred at sea and on the coast. Tuesday noon, three people were still missing and four others were sought for giving no news since the passage of Gonzalo. Reinforcements left Martinique and Guadeloupe in the morning. Firefighters must lend a hand to their colleagues in the northern leewards islands including sea research. On land, it is especially the electrical network which has suffered. However, several roofs were plucked under the onslaught of gusts, some exceeding 200 km / h. Gonzalo rose Tuesday morning North of Puerto Rico and continued his way to sea.

[Gustywind]

BREAKINGS NEWS

SCHOOL

CLOSURE of the establishments of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy


12 October, 2014 - 21:41

http://www.ac-guadeloupe.fr/actualites/ ... barthelemy


Due to the passage of the hurricane, the Reeve, in agreement with the Rector of Academy, informed of the closure of schools and institutions of the second degree of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, Tuesday, October 14, 2014.

[msbee]

I know those wind gusts we had were easily 200 KM...
just received an update that 40 boats were sunk in the lagoon during the storm and 4 are still missing.
Still have not heard anything on people missing for sure...
thanks for your report though Gusty.

[Gustywind]

I know those wind gusts we had were easily 200 KM...
just received an update that 40 boats were sunk in the lagoon during the storm and 4 are still missing.
Still have not heard anything on people missing for sure...
thanks for your report though Gusty.

40? how many? That's insane!!! I do it with my heart Barbara i appreciate all my friends. Glad to read them everyday in shape in spite of the sad story sometimes. If i've i more i will continue to keep you informed. The local news at 1PM will bring more on what really happened in the Northern Leewards. But looks like many reports support the idea of very very strong winds!

[Gustywind]

BREAKING NEWS BVI


UPDATE: Hurricane threat ends; all schools and gov’t buildings reopen

in Weather/Natural Disaster / By: BVI NEWS ONLINE on 10/14/2014 at 7:35 AM

http://bvinews.com/new/update-hurricane ... gs-reopen/

Tuesday, October 14 – The National Emergency Operations Centre has advised residents that Governor John S. Duncan is satisfied that Hurricane Gonzalo’s immediate threat to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is over.

His assessment followed consultation with the Director of the Department of Disaster Management, Sharleen DaBreo.

“The official ALL CLEAR has therefore been declared. This means that the weather system continues to move away from the territory, but residents should exercise caution,” said a release from the Government Information Service.

During the night, Gonzalo developed into a category 2 hurricane and the system tracked further north of the BVI than initially projected.

“This resulted in the territory being spared the brunt of the projected impact.”

Although the system continues to move away from the BVI, rainfall associated with Gonzalo may continue to affect the territory into the early afternoon.

Residents are advised to continue monitoring the Department of Disaster Management’s website and the local media for advice and instructions.

In the meantime, Education Minister Myron Walwyn has announced that all schools will reopen today, following an early closure on Monday.

The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) also said normality has been restored at the institution.

“HLSCC will resume classes and business as usual today,” it said.

PUBLIC OFFICERS

Deputy Governor V. Inez Archibald, in the meantime, said all public officers should report to work by 10am.

“All public officers are therefore asked to report to their respective offices by 10:00 a.m. today Tuesday 14th, October. This delayed start is to allow individuals time to fulfill their at-home preparations… On resumption of duties, public officers are encouraged to undertake initial assessments of their respective offices and surroundings and report any discrepancies to supervisors. I thank each of you for your prompt cooperation in securing your facilities yesterday; and I look forward to your continued cooperation as we return to duty this morning.”

[Gustywind]

Some news of Antigua and Barbuda...

Tuesday is National Cleanup and Recover Day

Posted On: October 14, 2014

http://www.ab.gov.ag/article_details.ph ... ategory=38


Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne has called for Tuesday 14th October to be national cleanup and recovery day, following the passage of Tropical Storm Gonzalo over the islands on Monday.
“I am making a call for all Antiguans and Barbudans and residents to utilize Tuesday, 14th October to carry out damage assessments of their offices, both public and private, and businesses and also to engage in a cleanup exercise in order for the nation to be fully back in business by Wednesday of this week,” he said.

The country’s leader, who made an initial assessment of the damage caused by the storm on Monday, said that it exceeded what he had anticipated and there are individuals who will require relief having had their roofs blown off, water damage and other types of damage to their homes and properties.

The Prime Minister said that he has already instructed the Minister responsible for Disaster Management, the Hon. Samantha Marshall to put together a special task force to carry out a swift national assessment to determine the needs of the people. He noted that government is prepared to provide assistance to persons who have suffered extensive damage.

The country’s leader also announced that schools should remain closed on Tuesday to allow education officials, principals and teachers to assess the situation. He was however swift to point out that Tuesday is not a public holiday and that persons should utilize the opportunity to return their businesses and offices to normal.

He also outlined that Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) crews are already out assessing the situation and are repairing downed power lines and poles in an effort to restore power fully to the islands. Prime Minister Browne reissued a call he made preceding the passage of the storm for persons to exercise extreme caution when using the roads and assessing the damage to their properties.

Following the tropical storm, Prime Minister Browne toured the island including some of the areas worst affected by the cyclone including Parham, where a number of fishing vessels were destroyed, Cades Bay, Johnson’s Point and the Villa and Point communities.

Minister responsible for Disaster Management, the Hon. Samantha Marshall also toured the island and reiterated the call made by the Prime Minister for the nation to come together to make the country fully business operational by Wednesday.

[artist]

[youtube]http://youtube.com/results?q=tropical%20storm%20gonzalo&sm=[/youtube]
[youtube]http://youtube.com/results?q=hurricane+gonzalo&search_type=&uploaded=w[/youtube]
Both from Antigua