The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) is closely monitoring the progress of the second Tropical Storm (TS) for the Atlantic hurricane season, TS Bertha.
Based on the 8.00am advisory, TS Bertha does not pose a threat to country Sint Maarten.
ODM will continue to monitor the progress of this fast moving storm and will provide an additional update later today-Friday should this be warranted.
The population is advised to monitor weather reports for any further updates.
A Small Craft Advisory will come into effect from 6.00pm today-Friday according to the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS). Sea conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly today and tonight as TS Bertha passes south of the island. Seas are expected to peak at nine feet sometime tonight into Saturday. An increase in shower activity and thunder activity with high winds according to MDS are expected.
TS Bertha was located on Friday morning at 8.00am was 110 miles east north east of Barbados and 220 miles east south east of Martinique.
TS Bertha is forecasted to pass north of Barbados today-Friday and through the central Lesser Antilles on tonight-Friday and into the Northeastern Caribbean on Saturday.
The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) has been busy cleaning various areas in the event of any rainfall that should come from the system when it passes south of the country.
The three storm pumps are on standby and the ministry has made the necessary preparations for the season overall.
