Another storm nears region

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Just days after the departure of Danny, Erika is now headed toward the Caribbean.

But unlike Danny, which concluded as tropical depression, Erika, which is currently a tropical storm, is “poorly organized,” according to the NOAA, although its hurricane-hunting aircrafted found that it had gotten “slightly stronger” on Tuesday night.

As of 8 AM Wednesday, the storm was about 335 miles east of Antigua with 45 mph winds.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Saba, Statia and St Maarten and Guadeloupe, St Martin and St Barth.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.

Several regional carriers had canceled flights for upcoming days.

LIAT announced cancellations of five flights on Wednesday and 11 flights on Thursday.

Regional carrier WINAIR said it would be operating a normal schedule except for the suspension of its St Maarten-Tortola flight and its afternoon St Maarten-Nevis flight.

WINAIR has cancelled all of its flights on Thursday, with plans to resume on Friday.