Tropical Storm Emily Weakens To Depression

[Updated] Tropical Storm Emily weakened into a depression after setting off flooding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti that killed four people, and forced thousands to evacuate their homes.

The Bermuda Weather Service [BWS] said tomorrow [Aug.8] Tropical Depression Emily will “bring strong winds, gale force gusts, a risk of thunder, and periods of showery rain, especially later.”

Emily’s closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs is forecast to be 136 nautical miles to the north north west at 4pm tomorrow. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center [NHC], the system presently has maximum sustained winds of 35mph [55km] per hour.

The BWS said showers and strong winds will persist into Tuesday before winds ease Tuesday night. They issued a Small Craft Warning valid from tonight through Monday afternoon, and a Gale Warning valid from late Monday afternoon through Monday night.

In the forecast discussion BWS Meteorologist Michelle Pitcher said, “The midnight update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicates that Emily will be a barely organized tropical depression when she passes by our area about 65nm to our north at 4pm on Monday.”

“None the less, there is a possibility that she could be a weak tropical storm at some point near our area as well. Models are having a hard time forecasting her characteristics as she is going to be interacting with surface troughs/fronts that are traveling around the aforementioned complex low.”

“We are monitoring her very closely and a tropical storm watch may be issued for the noon or 6pm update today. I have increased winds and showers for tonight to more closely match the NHC forecast with regards to the proximity of Emily. The winds and showers may be increased or decreased as conditions warrant.”

“A small craft warning is valid for tonight through Monday and a thunderstorm advisory is valid for this morning. These may be pre-empted by a Tropical Storm Watch or even a Tropical Storm Warning later today depending on how Emily evolves,” continued Ms Pitcher.

The storm name ‘Emily’ is one that many Bermudians still associate with the strike by Hurricane Emily in 1987 which caused widespread damage across the island.

Update 6:30pm: At 5pm the NHC said Emily dissipated, and after that the BWS said that the closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs has passed, and the “remnants of Emily” are no longer a threat to Bermuda.

- First graphic courtesy of BWS, second NHC

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