Carib Scope

分类： environment

  • Met Office Says Low-Pressure System No Immediate Threat to Antigua and Barbuda

    Met Office Says Low-Pressure System No Immediate Threat to Antigua and Barbuda

    Meteorological officials in Antigua and Barbuda have issued an updated tropical weather outlook confirming that a newly developed low-pressure system churning in the far eastern stretches of the tropical Atlantic carries no immediate risk to the twin-island nation.

    Released at 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the official advisory from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service pinpoints the newly formed low-pressure zone roughly 600 miles southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands, off the western coast of Africa. According to lead forecasters, the system has the potential to strengthen into a short-lived tropical depression as it moves across open Atlantic waters sometime between Thursday and Friday.

    Current climate models project that the disturbance has a 30% probability of organizing into a named tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours, with that likelihood rising slightly to 40% over the full seven-day forecast window. Beyond this emerging system, the national weather service is also keeping a close watch on the residual remnants of former Tropical Storm Fay, which is currently drifting across the Atlantic basin.

    Forecasters note that while monitoring continues, significant redevelopment of Fay is deemed highly unlikely. Meteorological data gives the former storm just a 20% chance of regenerating into a cyclonic system over both the 48-hour and seven-day forecasting periods. Repeating a key takeaway for residents and marine stakeholders, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service stressed that neither of the two active weather systems currently poses any immediate danger to Antigua and Barbuda or its surrounding territorial waters.

  • ESFN Extends Coastal Cleanup Efforts with McKinnons Wetlands Campaign

    ESFN Extends Coastal Cleanup Efforts with McKinnons Wetlands Campaign

    Ahead of International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026, environmental organizers are already building on early momentum to expand conservation efforts to underprotected local ecosystems. The EcoShores Sustainable Futures Network (ESFN), fresh off the success of its September 19 International Coastal Cleanup Day activities, has announced a follow-up initiative: the ‘Do It Twice’ community cleanup campaign, scheduled for Saturday, September 26 at McKinnons Wetlands.

    McKinnons Wetlands, a critical coastal ecosystem that supports regional biodiversity and climate resilience, has accumulated large volumes of discarded human waste over time. Site surveys conducted by ESFN teams have identified a wide range of debris clogging the wetland, from single-use plastic bottles to bulk discarded materials including old stoves, construction tiles, and other improperly disposed items that threaten native wildlife and disrupt natural hydrological processes.

    The upcoming cleanup is open to all members of the public, with a particular focus on engaging youth and local residents from surrounding communities. ESFN volunteer teams will arrive on site at 6:00 AM to prepare staging areas, and the community cleanup will run from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Beyond just removing accumulated waste, the event is designed to educate participants about the vital ecological role of coastal wetlands, connecting hands-on action with tangible learning outcomes.

    Britney McDonald, Portfolio Manager for ESFN, emphasized the need for sustained action beyond a single annual cleanup day. “One day of action is not enough to reverse long-term damage to critical ecosystems,” McDonald explained. “The ‘Do It Twice’ campaign lets us carry the momentum from International Coastal Cleanup Day to a second, at-risk site that often flies under the radar when it comes to conservation attention. It has to change, and we are part of the solution.”

    Wetlands are among the most ecologically valuable ecosystems on the planet, providing a wide range of benefits that directly support human and non-human life alike. They serve as critical habitat, nesting grounds, and breeding areas for birds, pollinators including bees, and countless other native species. These pollinators, in turn, underpin global agricultural productivity and food security. Wetlands also act as natural flood control infrastructure, absorbing storm surge and slowing runoff to reduce the impact of extreme weather events on nearby communities, making their protection a core component of climate resilience planning.

    This campaign is not a one-off initiative for ESFN, but rather an extension of the organization’s ongoing commitment to youth environmental engagement. Over the summer and continuing through December, ESFN’s internship program has offered young people and youth groups hands-on experience working with wetland ecosystems across the region. These programs combine environmental education with practical, on-the-ground conservation work, helping the next generation of environmental stewards develop a deep understanding of their local ecosystems and the actions needed to protect them.

    ESFN frames the ‘Do It Twice’ campaign as part of its broader mission to advance sustainable development education, grassroots community participation, and targeted environmental action. The organization is always open to new partnerships and community support for future cleanups, wetland conservation projects, environmental education programming, and other community-led conservation initiatives.

    For community members interested in joining the September 26 cleanup at McKinnons Wetlands, registration is available online at https://qrco.de/bh0qwm.

  • A National Legacy Rooted in Mahogany

    A National Legacy Rooted in Mahogany

    For centuries, mahogany has stood as more than just a hardwood tree in Belize—it is the backbone of the nation’s history, culture, and evolving relationship with its natural resources. Long before modern tourism and agriculture became the primary drivers of Belize’s economy, this towering “red gold” ruled the land, shaping the development of British Honduras (Belize’s colonial predecessor) and building the foundation of communities across the country. Today, more than 400 years after mahogany first left its indelible mark on Belize, the Central Bank of Belize has honored this iconic species with a feature on its newest limited-edition collectible coin, cementing its status as a core part of Belizean national identity.

    The story of mahogany in Belize begins with the arrival of British colonists, who ventured to the region in the 17th century specifically to harvest the valuable timber, quickly turning the mahogany trade into the central pillar of the colonial economy. For generations, the industry defined work, community, and trade for the territory, and it remains etched into the country’s most recognizable national symbols—mahogany already holds a place of honor on Belize’s Coat of Arms, depicted alongside the woodcutters and logging tools that powered the nation’s early growth.

    In the 20th century, a Belizean conservationist named Henry Fairweather, a former land surveyor widely known affectionately as the “Mahogany Man”, gave this iconic tree a new, sustainable chapter. Devoted to restoring the species that had been heavily harvested for centuries, Fairweather poured more than $100,000 of his own money into planting more than 100,000 mahogany saplings across 400 acres of land along the Sibun River. Working without a formal textbook guide, he drew on decades of firsthand knowledge of Belize’s forests to execute his vision, with a goal of creating a sustainable mahogany industry that could support future generations of Belizeans without depleting the nation’s natural resources.

    “I have no textbook to follow on this. It is just my long knowledge of the forest and my desire to do something for the country,” Fairweather said in a 2000 interview. “I want them to plant enough mahogany for them to sell. And it must be sustainable. That they would be able to grow it continuously and live by that… The business of mahogany is not play business, it is strictly hard work, a lot of sacrifices, a lot of punishment in doing without the things you need.”

    Fairweather’s innovative approach to conservation earned him the prestigious James A. Waight Conservation Award for his commitment to balancing environmental stewardship with economic opportunity. But his vision came at a profound personal cost: by 2000, when News Five first interviewed him, his mahogany project was already facing severe financial strain. Because mahogany trees require roughly 20 years to reach maturity, Fairweather never lived to see the profitable, sustainable operation he spent decades building toward.

    Even so, his work laid the groundwork for a new era of mahogany stewardship in Belize, and his legacy of working in harmony with nature remains a touchstone for conservation efforts in the country. “Mr. Fairweather, by working in harmony with nature, was able for example, not to cut down the land, but to plant back in the land what has been taken out and to show that it would give you the peace and harmony that we truly need as a nation,” Adalbert Tucker, former coordinator of the Belize River Valley Development Program, noted of Fairweather’s work.

    Now, Belize is honoring the tree’s centuries-long legacy with a permanent, collectible tribute: a painted commemorative coin. According to Delroy Rhaburn, Assistant Manager of Currency Management at the Central Bank of Belize, officials considered featuring another iconic Belizean species—the national bird, the toucan—before settling on mahogany. The small size of coins creates strict limits on the number of colors that can be used, and a detailed depiction of a toucan would require eight distinct colors, making an accurate representation unfeasible. Mahogany was also already featured on the country’s largest circulation coin, making it a natural choice.

    “The tree is our national tree. We know that it played a big role in Belize’s history. Everybody knows the mahogany tree and the toucan when you think about our national symbols. So we feel like that was an appropriate subject for the painted coin,” Rhaburn explained.

    Today, mahogany no longer holds the position as Belize’s dominant economic driver it held for centuries, but its cultural and historical significance remains undimmed. From the forests that fueled colonial development to Fairweather’s vision of sustainable stewardship to the new commemorative coin that celebrates its place in Belizean life, mahogany endures as a powerful symbol of Belize’s heritage, resilience, and national identity.

  • Limiting water use likely if no yearend rain – weather expert

    Limiting water use likely if no yearend rain – weather expert

    As the Caribbean nation of Guyana faces a strengthening El Niño event with projected extreme dry conditions through early 2027, top meteorological officials are sounding the alarm that severe water shortages, disrupted supply chains, and strained infrastructure could become reality if critical year-end rainfall fails to materialize.

    Speaking at the 21st National Climate Outlook Forum hosted at Georgetown’s Herdmanston Lodge on Tuesday, chief hydrometeorologist Dr. Garvin Cummings noted that while current water supplies remain adequate despite ongoing record heat, the situation is hanging in the balance dependent on late-year precipitation. Forecasters are closely monitoring storage levels in the country’s key water conservancies, which rely on seasonal rainfall to refill to capacity for the dry season.

    “If there is no rainfall, then those levels are going to continue to fall, and that’s where water rationing becomes a real thing,” Dr. Cummings told attendees. He outlined that one of the country’s largest water storage hubs, the East Demerara Water Conservancy, has already dropped two meters (measured on the Georgetown Datum scale) from 58 GD in early August to 56 GD as of late September. Should levels fall further to 55 GD or lower, he warned, the situation would escalate to a major public concern.

    Forecasters hold out a moderate path for avoiding crisis: if significant rainfall arrives before year’s end, levels could rebound to between 56 and 57 GD, enough to sustain communities through to the start of the next main rainy season. Without that replenishment, however, officials will be forced to implement emergency water management strategies to stretch existing supplies.

    Already, state agencies have begun rolling out mitigation measures to reduce drought impacts, particularly for agriculture and vulnerable communities. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority has deployed mobile pumping units along Guyana’s coastal belt to move stored water to agricultural regions, and large black storage tanks are being distributed to high-risk areas to help households and small farms stockpile water. Policymakers and technical teams have been fully briefed on evolving forecast conditions to coordinate rapid response if conditions worsen.

    Beyond water access, the drought poses cascading risks to critical supply links for Guyana’s interior hinterland communities. Falling river levels will disrupt the shallow-draft water transport that moves most food, medical supplies, and harvested timber into and out of remote regions. In a worst-case scenario, officials would be forced to shift to far more expensive air freight, driving up the cost of essential goods for already marginalized inland populations.

    “We want to prepare, we’re hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst,” Dr. Cummings said. “If the rains are not going to come, then water transport becomes an issue.”

    The grim forecast comes after meteorological modeling confirmed an overwhelming likelihood of a sustained strong El Niño through the first quarter of 2027. Specialist hydrometeorologist Komalchand Dhiram told the forum that models show an over 85% probability of below-average rainfall through the end of the year, with zero chance of above-average or even average precipitation across the country.

    Dhiram added that Guyana can expect between 50 and 60 days of extreme heat through March, with both daytime and nighttime temperatures projected to stay well above the long-term seasonal average. Even scattered light showers will not be enough to offset the persistent heat and drying, he noted.

    The extreme heat will also add unplanned strain to the country’s energy infrastructure, particularly in remote interior regions. Hydropower stations that serve communities in Rupununi and Paramakatoi will face dual pressure: falling water levels reduce power generation capacity, while elevated temperatures drive increased consumer demand for electricity to power cooling systems.

  • Tropical Wave Off Africa Has 30% Chance of Developing Within Seven Days

    Tropical Wave Off Africa Has 30% Chance of Developing Within Seven Days

    The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued its latest weekly tropical weather outlook, flagging a new tropical disturbance set to emerge off the coastline of western Africa this Wednesday. Forecasters have assigned a 30% probability that this system will strengthen into a named cyclone over the coming seven days as it tracks across the Atlantic Ocean.

    Per the center’s Tuesday afternoon update, the system is projected to travel northwestward through the far eastern Atlantic basin, where gradual atmospheric conditions could allow slow development over time. In the shorter 48-hour window following the disturbance’s expected exit from the African coast, forecasters say the chance of organized cyclone formation remains effectively negligible, holding steady near 0%.

    While immediate formation is unlikely, the National Hurricane Center is urging local stakeholders and residents across Cabo Verde to keep close watch on the system’s progress. The outlook notes that by the end of the workweek, the islands could see disruptive weather including sudden gusty winds and intense, heavy rainfall. As of the latest update, the system poses no identified threat to the Caribbean nations of Antigua and Barbuda.

  • CDB and Jamaica gov’t joint programme to improve water access in rural Jamaica

    CDB and Jamaica gov’t joint programme to improve water access in rural Jamaica

    Jamaica’s underserved rural communities are poised to gain long-overdue improved access to consistent, high-quality drinking water after a landmark $36 million infrastructure upgrade program was formalized by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Jamaican government on September 16. The Jamaica Rural Water Supply Program, a five-year initiative, will revamp six existing water supply systems that serve communities across five of the island’s parishes, targeting some of the nation’s most water-insecure populations.

    In an official statement following the signing of the agreement, CDB President Daniel M. Best emphasized that the project extends far beyond physical infrastructure construction. “The Jamaica Rural Water Supply Programme is about far more than pipes, pumps and reservoirs. It is about improving lives,” Best said. He explained that reliable access to treated water is a foundational need that touches every corner of community life, supporting residential households, local schools, public health clinics, small-scale agricultural producers, and local businesses, while also building critical resilience to the growing impacts of climate change across the Caribbean.

    Currently, 62 percent of the population that will be served by the program relies on unimproved, inconsistent water sources such as natural springs and collected rainwater. Once completed, the initiative is projected to dramatically expand access to utility-grade treated water, cut down the countless hours rural households currently spend collecting and storing water, and unlock new economic growth across key local sectors including agriculture, small-scale commerce, and community tourism.

    Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that the investment aligns with the government’s ongoing national goal to achieve universal access to utility-grade water across the island. “We are edging closer to achieving universal utility-grade water access in Jamaica. Every year, we are making investments of this nature,” Holness said.

    The planned upgrades cover a range of climate-smart infrastructure improvements: enhancements to existing water treatment and transmission networks, development of new sustainable water sources and expanded storage capacity, and installation of energy-efficient pumping equipment, grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems, and modern remote monitoring technology to improve system management.

    Funding for the program is structured as a collaborative investment: the CDB is contributing $30 million, equal to roughly 83 percent of total project costs, with the majority of this financing coming as concessional loans from the bank’s Special Development Fund. The Government of Jamaica is covering the remaining $6.249 million of the project budget.

    Best stressed that the investment is particularly critical at a time when climate change is intensifying pressure on Caribbean water resources through more frequent and severe droughts, shifting seasonal rainfall patterns, and destructive extreme weather events. “As we respond to today’s needs, we must also prepare for tomorrow’s realities. Investments such as this allow us to deliver essential services while building the resilience communities need for the future,” he added.

    Implementation of the program will be led by Jamaica’s Rural Water Supply Limited over a 60-month timeline, with final completion scheduled for September 2031. Once all upgrades are finished and brought into compliance with National Water Commission (NWC) technical standards, the upgraded systems will be transferred to the NWC for long-term operation and maintenance.

  • Hurricane Polo Explodes Into Category 5 Off Mexico

    Hurricane Polo Explodes Into Category 5 Off Mexico

    In the eastern Pacific Ocean, a rapidly strengthening storm has captured the urgent attention of meteorologists worldwide: Hurricane Polo has exploded from a weaker system to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane in an extraordinarily short timeframe. Over just 24 hours, the storm’s maximum sustained wind speeds surged by 110 miles per hour, a rate of intensification that the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has described as “truly remarkable,” ranking among the fastest ever recorded in the eastern Pacific basin.

    This historic rate of intensification places Polo in rare company alongside some of the most devastating hurricanes to impact Mexico in recent decades. It comes extremely close to the 24-hour intensification surge seen in 2023’s Hurricane Otis, which leveled large parts of the coastal resort city of Acapulco after catching forecasters off guard with its rapid strengthening. Only Hurricane Patricia, which set a global record in 2015 with a 120 mph 24-hour wind increase, has posted a faster intensification rate in the region.

    As of Tuesday morning local time, Polo boasts maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, making it one of the strongest storms to form in the eastern Pacific in recent years. Current forecast tracking models project the storm will turn northwest in the coming days, following a path that runs parallel to Mexico’s southwestern coastline. Forecasters with the NHC note that the storm’s most powerful winds are expected to remain over open ocean, far from populated coastal areas.

    Even with the strongest conditions staying offshore, Mexican communities along the southwest coast still face significant, life-threatening hazards. Forecasters identify heavy rainfall as Polo’s most dangerous onshore threat, with the NHC projecting total accumulations of 4 to 8 inches across the states of Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday. Isolated areas could see as much as 12 inches of rain, creating extreme risk for flash flooding and destructive mudslides across mountainous and low-lying coastal regions. In response to these risks, authorities have issued a tropical storm watch for a 300-mile stretch of coastline stretching from Tecpán de Galeana to Manzanillo, warning residents to prepare for potential storm conditions.

    Polo is not the only active storm system in the Pacific this week. Tropical Storm Odalys is currently churning far to the west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, and meteorologists predict it could strengthen to hurricane strength by the middle of the week.

    The unusually active Pacific hurricane season, which has already produced multiple major storms, is being linked to ongoing El Niño conditions that have pushed ocean surface temperatures across the Pacific far above average. Climate and weather experts note that warmer ocean waters act as fuel for tropical cyclone development, creating favorable conditions for the hyperactive season currently unfolding in the Pacific. In a striking contrast, the Atlantic basin has yet to record its first hurricane of the 2026 season, a stark split in activity that aligns with typical El Niño-driven weather patterns.

  • Sandals Foundation rallies over 700 volunteers for International Coastal Cleanup Day

    Sandals Foundation rallies over 700 volunteers for International Coastal Cleanup Day

    Every September 19, communities across the globe unite for International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD), the world’s largest single-day volunteer initiative dedicated to protecting ocean and coastal ecosystems. This year, the Sandals Foundation — a Caribbean non-profit focused on driving grassroots environmental action and community stewardship — successfully mobilized more than 700 volunteers across the region to join the global movement, with a targeted cleanup effort drawing cross-sector participation in Grenada.

    In Grenada, 70 participants representing a diverse coalition of stakeholders turned out for the event. The volunteer cohort included staff from host resort Sandals Grenada, the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA), local business McIntyre Bros. Limited, plus hundreds of students and faculty from six local primary and secondary schools: Gateway Christian Academy, Calliste Government School, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, and Limes Mennonite Primary School. Working together, the group cleared accumulated trash and debris along a 3-mile stretch of coastline stretching from the airport top road to Devil’s Bay, a popular local coastal habitat.

    Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, emphasized that ICCD is far more than a one-day cleanup — it is an opportunity to build long-term environmental responsibility across local communities. “ICCD is a dedicated moment when the entire world aligns to show solidarity and care for our shared oceans,” Clarke explained. “Our work through this event centers on mobilizing community members and empowering them to take tangible action to protect our coastlines. Every small action adds up to meaningful change, and we are continuously encouraged by the consistent support and collaboration from our institutional partners and local residents, who give their time freely to care for the natural spaces we call home.”

    Elana Beckett, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at the Grenada Airports Authority, praised the Sandals Foundation for its coordinated organizing and highlighted the collective impact of cross-partner collaboration. “The event was extremely well organized from start to finish,” Beckett noted. “This initiative not only helps us deliver on our own institutional sustainability commitments, but the direct removal of litter from coastal environments delivers tangible, immediate benefits for marine life, native bird populations, and fragile coastal ecosystems. We are grateful to Sandals for reaching out to GAA, for prioritizing shared environmental responsibility, and for creating the space for us to work together as a broader regional community.”

    Rohan Louis, General Manager of Sandals Grenada, commended volunteers for their dedication and the tangible results of their work. By the end of the day, the Grenada cohort had collected more than 600 pounds of non-biodegradable waste for proper disposal. “Kudos to every volunteer who came together and took time out of their schedules to remove hundreds of pounds of waste from our local environment,” Louis said. “Beyond the immediate impact of the cleanup itself, we achieved our core secondary goal: heightening public awareness of how daily human choices impact our natural ecosystems. This is a message we will continue to champion among our resort team and across the wider Grenadian community.”

    The 2024 ICCD effort is just one part of the Sandals Foundation’s 15-year legacy of regional conservation work. Since launching its environmental programming in 2009, the foundation has mobilized nearly 200,000 people across the Caribbean to participate in a wide range of conservation initiatives, including marine sanctuary management, critical coral reef restoration projects, K-12 environmental education programs, and targeted biodiversity conservation work to protect threatened regional species. This long-term commitment aligns with the foundation’s core mission: building a culture of environmental stewardship that empowers local communities to protect the natural resources that support both livelihoods and tourism across the Caribbean.

  • Hurricane Janet: 22 September 1955

    Hurricane Janet: 22 September 1955

    It has been nearly seven decades since one of the most destructive tropical cyclones ever recorded in the Eastern Caribbean descended on the tri-island nation of Grenada, leaving an indelible mark on the country’s history. Between September 22 and 23, 1955, Hurricane Janet, an unusually powerful outlier storm system, tore through the small Caribbean archipelago with a ferocity that defied all prior regional storm expectations.

    Local meteorological authorities and broadcasters did issue advance alerts of the approaching danger: the Windwards Island Broadcasting Service (WIBS) began rolling out official hurricane warnings starting at noon on September 22, ramping up the frequency and urgency of broadcasts as the storm drew closer. Despite the repeated alerts, the vast majority of Grenada’s population failed to grasp the imminent threat, adopting a complacent, blasé stance toward the incoming weather event.

    That nonchalance evaporated instantly when Hurricane Janet made landfall just after 6:30 p.m. That evening, hurricane-force gusts and torrential downpours slammed into the islands, unleashing 11 and a half hours of unrelenting destruction that stretched all the way to 6 a.m. the following morning. Packing sustained peak winds of 130 miles per hour, the storm scoured the main island of Grenada, as well as the smaller sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, flattening everything in its path.

    When the skies finally cleared and the full scale of the disaster emerged, the human and economic toll was staggering. On the main island of Grenada alone, the storm claimed 120 lives, destroyed half of the country’s entire housing stock, and wiped out 70 percent of the nation’s nutmeg trees – the iconic agricultural commodity that has long been central to Grenada’s local economy. For the smaller northern islands, the devastation was even more complete: 27 additional lives were lost, another 500 people suffered storm-related injuries, and nearly the entire population of Carriacou and Petite Martinique was left homeless.

    In total, preliminary damage assessments from the aftermath pegged total economic losses at approximately $20 million U.S. dollars in 1955 valuations. In the immediate response phase, public health officials moved quickly to prevent post-storm disease outbreaks, vaccinating 80 percent of the country’s total population against typhoid fever. As international aid poured into the storm-ravaged nation, prefabricated emergency housing units donated from Suriname arrived to shelter displaced residents. These sturdy, pre-built structures became permanently embedded in Grenada’s built landscape, earning the nickname “Janet Houses” that they still carry to this day, a lasting reminder of the 1955 catastrophe.

  • NHC Monitoring New Tropical Wave Expected to Emerge Off Africa

    NHC Monitoring New Tropical Wave Expected to Emerge Off Africa

    The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely tracking a newly emerged tropical disturbance that is projected to exit the western coast of Africa this Wednesday, bringing the potential for gradual cyclonic development across the eastern Atlantic later this week. In its official Monday update to the routine Tropical Weather Outlook, forecasters noted that any organization of the low-pressure system will likely unfold at a slow pace as it tracks westward past the Cabo Verde Islands over the coming days.

    As of the latest forecast, the NHC assigns a near-zero probability of tropical cyclone formation within the next 48 hours, with a 20% chance of gradual development over the full seven-day forecasting window. This marks a downward revision from earlier projections, which had pegged the seven-day formation chance at 30% in a previously released outlook captured via screenshot.

    For the moment, the disturbance sits hundreds of miles east of the Caribbean basin, and forecasters have confirmed that it poses no immediate danger to Antigua and Barbuda, or any other territories across the Leeward Islands chain. In a separate update on active Atlantic systems, Tropical Storm Fay continues to hold its structure as it churns across the central Atlantic Ocean, positioned several hundred miles to the southwest of Portugal’s Azores archipelago with no immediate threats to populated coastal areas.