Residents of Antigua and Barbuda are preparing for a day of overcast, unstable conditions this Thursday, as a tropical wave carrying abundant moisture and atmospheric instability moves across the Leeward Islands and British Virgin Islands. The official Meteorological Service of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a detailed forecast predicting scattered showers and intense thunderstorms throughout the daylight hours, with a gradual clearing and improvement of conditions expected as the day progresses.
According to the forecast, total rainfall accumulation across the nation is projected to fall between 5 and 25 millimeters, which translates to approximately 0.2 to 1 inch. Daily high temperatures will peak at 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit), while overnight lows will settle at a mild 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Moving into Thursday night, the sky is expected to clear to partly cloudy conditions, with only a 40 percent probability of additional scattered showers.
Winds across the region will blow from an easterly direction at sustained speeds of 15 to 30 kilometers per hour. Offshore, ocean swells will build to between 1.8 and 2.4 meters, or 6 to 8 feet, prompting meteorological officials to keep a pre-issued small craft advisory in place for all small vessels operating in local waters. This current forecast is valid from issuance through 8 a.m. local time on Friday, September 11.
Longer-range outlooks from the service note that ongoing tropical wave activity across the broader Leeward Islands region will keep the probability of showers and thunderstorms elevated through the end of the week, before more stable, calm atmospheric conditions settle into the area.