Tropical storm Philippe, which developed on Tuesday, brought heavy rain and high gusts to the northern Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean Sea as it proceeded slowly over the Atlantic Ocean. Governments were forced to close schools during the storm because of the expected flash floods.
Flooded street brought by Tropical Storm Philippe. (Source: USA Today)
Tropical Storm Headed to Atlantic
Tropical storm Philippe is expected to move northward into the Atlantic later this week, passing past Bermuda and possibly reaching Atlantic Canada over the weekend. It is not likely to strengthen into a storm as predicted on Monday. Due to tropical activity, Phil Klotzbach, a meteorologist from Colorado State University, stated on X Monday that the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season “has now officially met NOAA’s definition of an above-normal hurricane season.” At least eighteen storms have been named, with one originating in January.
AccuWeather reported Phillipe began traveling west on Sept. 23 and is approaching North America. In recent days, it outlasted Tropical Storm Rina, which dissipated Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said. Philippe’s center was 70 miles east of Leeward Island Anguilla at 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Philippe moved northwest at 10 mph with 45 mph sustained winds. Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands have tropical storm warnings and watches. The hurricane center warned of flash floods in Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands from up to a foot of rain. Antigua & Barbuda closed schools and government offices, while St. Martin and St. Barts closed schools.
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Power and Water Outage Caused by the Tropical Storm Philippe
Guadeloupe officials reported that the storm left some communities without water and affected 2,500 people with power outages. Additionally, it isolated one village and closed two highways until workers could repair them. ‘Life-threatening’ waves and strong tropical storm gusts are possible. Some of the same islands may experience tropical storm-force wind gusts (higher than 40 mph), while islands close to Philippe’s core may have persistent winds, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Courtney Travis. The hurricane center issued a severe surf advisory for the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Atlantic beaches of Puerto Rico through midweek. The storm center issued a warning, stating that the swells might result in surf and rip current conditions that could be fatal.
After hitting the Caribbean, the storm will move over 2,000 miles north and hit Atlantic Canada early next week with heavy rain, powerful gusts, and storm surge, AccuWeather warned. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Adam Douty expects Philippe to head toward Atlantic Canada, possibly entering Nova Scotia late Sunday night or Monday.
