(CMR) A Tropical Storm Watch continues for the Cayman Islands. Tropical storm conditions are possible there by Saturday or Saturday night.
At 7 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Eta was located about 65 miles (105 km) east of Belize City, Belize, and about 410 miles (660 km) west-southwest of Grand Cayman.
The depression is moving toward the north near 7 mph (13 km/h). A turn toward the northeast is expected later today, with this motion continuing through early Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Eta will move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea today, approach the Cayman Islands Saturday, and be near Cuba Saturday night and Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Eta is forecast to become a tropical storm again later today, with further strengthening likely through early Sunday.
On its current forecast, Eta is expected to pass about 83 miles NW of Grand Cayman on Saturday afternoon bringing tropical-storm-force winds across Grand Cayman from midday.
Saturday and lasting through Saturday evening, 129 NW of Cayman Brac Saturday evening bringing tropical-storm-force winds across Cayman Brac from early evening Saturday and lasting through late Saturday night. The Cayman Islands into portions of Cuba: 10 to 20 inches (255 to 510 mm), isolated maximum totals of 30 inches (760 mm).
Although the details of the future track and intensity of Eta are still uncertain, there is an increasing risk of impacts from wind and rainfall in portions of the Cayman Islands, Cuba, South Florida and the Florida Keys and the Northwest Bahamas this weekend and early next week.
Expected weather conditions for the Cayman Islands:
Overcast skies with torrential rain and intermittent thunderstorms. Showers will locally heavy at times leading to flooding of low lying areas.
A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
Estimated Rainfall Amount per Day
Friday*: 76.2 to 153.4 mm (3 – 6 inches)
Saturday: 127to 254 mm (5 to 10 inches)
*Friday- models are indicating extreme amounts of precipitation across the Cayman Islands for Friday evening given Tropical Depression Eta’s current forecast path.
Estimated Wind direction and Speeds
Friday: East to southeast 20 to 25 knots G35 knots today, East to southeast 25 to 30 knots G40 knots tonight.
Saturday: Southerly 30 to 35 knots G45 knots this morning veering to the west to southwest 25 to 30 gusting G 40 knots this afternoon, northwest 25 to 30 knots G30 knots.
Sunday: Westerly 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts.
Estimated Wave Heights
Friday: 5 to 7 feet today, 7 to 11 feet tonight.
Saturday: 8 to 10 feet
A SMALL CRAFT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS TODAY WITH A MARINE ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. ALL SMALL CRAFT SHOULD SEEK AND REMAINS IN SAFE HABOUR FROM TONIGHT.
The Cayman Islands National Weather Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.
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