WEATHER UPDATE: Maria to pass north of Dominica

At 11 pm, the center of Tropical Storm Maria was located near latitude 15.1 north, longitude 59.5 west about 120 miles east of Dominica. Maria is now moving toward the west northwest near 14 mph and this motion is expected to continue tonight with a turn towards the northwest by tomorrow.

On the forecast track the center of Maria is expected to pass north of Dominica by  late tonight into early Saturday morning, accompanied by pockets of light to moderate showers, scattered thunderstorms and gusty winds. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. A french buoy reported sustained winds of 39 mph during the past few hours.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles mainly to the northeast of the center. Models are forecasting Maria to remain a Tropical Storm as it moves across the northern section of the island chain. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Dominica and the islands north, through to Puerto Rico and a tropical storm warning is also in effect for Martinique.

Sea swells is a major concern and are expected to peak  up to 5.0 metres mainly across the northern and eastern coast of the island. All users of the sea and residents in coastal areas, especially on the northern and eastern coastlines are advised to take all the necessary precautions.

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59 Comments

  1. D/a Massive
    September 10, 2011

    A hurricane or a storm is not like a boat passing to the north or the south people. As the forcaster indicated winds extend outward from the centre up tp 175 miles. No matter where it passes, north or south, the islands will still feel the effects of the winds.

  2. julie m ribeiro
    September 10, 2011

    yeshua!!!!!JESUS !!!!!LOOK OVER Dominica!! plz father lord guide this storm too move away from DOMINICA and ABBA father guide it your a god who rule over all storm!!!!!it is DONE IN YESHUA’S NAME!!! JESUS LET YOUR POWER BE BIG IN THIS SITUATION !!!!! :-|

  3. PRO, Labour party
    September 10, 2011

    the rain will be showers of blessing for transparent leadership and governance by our lovely Prime Minister.

  4. So Na
    September 10, 2011

    ONETHING NO MATTER HOW HARD DOMINICANS LIKE TO CRY…WHEN IT COMES TO STORM , ALL SUPERMARKETS FILLED….GOOD JOB PARENTS…BUT I SAW MORE MOTHERS…GOD BLESS ALL DOMINICAN MOTHERS !!!!

  5. LAYOUVALLEY BIGBULLO
    September 10, 2011

    LET US PRAY LET US PRAY LET US PRAY

    LISTEN TO GHOST KELLLY

  6. Anonymous
    September 9, 2011

    The authorities violate the basic principles of Disaster Risk Management with their poor planning.
    Why did NEPO send the population in panic calling on parents to collect their children at mid-day? and having citizens empty supermarkets and gas stations?
    For over a week MARIA appeared on the radar with all indications the storm may pass over Dominica. There was no action from NEPO and then all of a sudden EMERGENCY meeting this morning followed by an address to the nation by the PM.
    School closed at 12 and from then no workers did any work. The PM called on employers to allow workers to go home early.
    The PM has no idea of the cost to employers for paying wages for no work. The storm was miles away and one has to question the motive of the urgency of the PM’s address.
    A few years ago when Hurricane Dean was approaching Dominica the PM left for a cruise on the same day, last November when Hurricane Tomas was approaching the authorities went on national radio stating NOTHING CAN STOP THE PARTY, people were allowed in the stadium and only when galvanize roof started flying did they suspend the Saturday night of the Creole Festival.
    With weather information available at the click of a mouse, the action of NEPO was uncalled for and they may only be creating the WOLF Phenomena, that when the real storm comes people will not respond and many may perish.
    Advice to NEPO, hold regular meetings, communicate with the public continuously, keep them up to date on storm movements and establish a plan of action.
    This approach will save citizens dollars instead of the panic spending created by what happened today.
    Disaster preparedness cannot be achieved in three hours.
    Stop that Wolf Wolf approach to Disaster Preparedness.

  7. RASTA
    September 9, 2011

    di storm already hitting roseau, astaphans roof just go

    • ahwa
      September 10, 2011

      lmao allu too bad

    • Anonymous
      September 10, 2011

      Please, if you take your good senses to come and share information on DNO the very least you can do is be responsible.

      Are you trying to incite the masses to go out and loot Astaphans? All of Dominica will lose out in terms of higher insurance premiums that would have to be paid to insure our possessions including your hire purchase mattress that maybe have plenty peenesz in it.

  8. DOMINICAN BORN
    September 9, 2011

    I can understand the negative comments about politics but you guys are making negative comments about a tropical storm? You cannot be serious…..Well i am from da and love my country so i wish double for u bad or good.

  9. ....hot
    September 9, 2011

    lets jets hope the whole thing dosnt hit us :-D :-D

  10. September 9, 2011

    It makes me feel ignorant after reading some of these comments.When will we learn as a people?When will we let go?when will we be able to respect and think wisely before we write anything?I feel sorry for some people.If that is how they behave writing a comment,just imagine how they act in real.Let us let go,we are supposed to support each other.Now,today is not the time/day to dwell on negativity.Let us do better.I want to wish us well till the storm passes over and continued love.Stay safe.

  11. Lord have Mercy
    September 9, 2011

    Lord please do not punish us all for supporting the preacher who refuses to testify.

  12. Humanist
    September 9, 2011

    It seems that no matter how many times a few people repeat that natural disasters are most simply explained as NATURAL occurences, many Dominicans take inordinate pleasure in assuming that the world is ending and that storms are punishments from god and that we need to pray to be saved. When the storm hits St. Lucia or Puerto Rico, is it because they deserved to be hit? Were THEY not praying hard enough? Are they evil pieces of filth that deserve to be obliterated?

    If you believe so, you are ignorant, possibly mad, and possibly even sadistic, since some Dominicans grin and chuckle with glee when they talk about other islands being “punished” by storms. This is horrible behavior. We should never be happy that somewhere else was hit by a storm. But the fact is that storms are as natural as anything else on this planet, and our planet has been hit by them since it was formed 4 billion years ago.

    We are better people than this. You can pray if you like when storms come, but at least acknowledge that storms can be explained without any supernatural thing being invoked, and that it is therefore unnecesary and superfluous to add religion into the mix. And furthermore, please do not ignore the fact that when a storm misses us, it hits someone else. And finally, do not take pleasure in that other island/country being hit. That is sick and shameful.

    • Rocks
      September 9, 2011

      Did we read the same news article!!!! Sorry but I don’t see how your point apply to the article above whether it is true or not. You see we all have problems as Dominicans and none is better than the other. You just pointed out all Dominicans problem but failed to see yours. Here’s your problem: You don’t know how to comment about the story infront of you. Your above comment is for another discussion and has nothing to do with the storm affecting Dominica tonight.

      • Humanist
        September 9, 2011

        Read the comments below you and on virtually every article involving weather that appears on this site, and you will, unless your brain is damaged, understand why I wrote what I did.

    • c.bruce
      September 9, 2011

      THE STORMS HIT THESE OTHER ISLANDS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH HAITIANS THERE TO PUSH THE STORM BACK

      • September 10, 2011

        God one , since they stepped down in DA , too many bad stuff taking place in the island, they are unwanted aliens in other part of the world, right now Dominicans do not have to travel to Guadalupe, Martinique, and Haiti they are all around in ever corner no more saying i will go Haiti and mess you up, just so sad that they are rooted in Dominica and no one can remove them like it or not

  13. Amazing
    September 9, 2011

    I am sorry to say this but you ppl are really stupid.How can you all make this into something political.It is a Tropical Storm you idoits,it has nothing to do with cleansing the island.When I was growing up in DA,storms had nothing to do with politics,ppl were coming together as neighbours and helping each other out.You guys need to pray that nobody loses their lives in this natural diaster instead of making this into something political.

  14. Prophet2
    September 9, 2011

    Too much obeah and voodoo in Dominica, change your ways.

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      September 9, 2011

      You first.

      This is a nature doing its thing. NOTHING to do with obeah or voodoo.

      So so sad that some people major in stupidity.

    • ....hot
      September 9, 2011

      shut up man :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

  15. just saying
    September 9, 2011

    Lets trust the Lord on this one

    • ....hot
      September 9, 2011

      good add vice dude :-D 8)

  16. Prophet2
    September 9, 2011

    It was David, a servant of God in ’79 and now Mary, the Mother of Christ. The writing is pon de wall. Repent!

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      September 9, 2011

      You again. Actually this storm is called MARIA and not Mary.

      • Prophet2
        September 9, 2011

        Mary is Maria in Spanish.

  17. fatty batty
    September 9, 2011

    well stop the negetive talk you guys bad weather coming and all u guys can talk about wishing bad. Dear lord at this time help my country and i’ts people keep everyone safe and in your hands,i pray AMEn.

  18. September 9, 2011

    on my way home from school i see two house roof going

    • Teacher
      September 9, 2011

      Really???!! Wow! Write a composition to describe all that you saw and heard; only 300 words.

    • ....hot
      September 9, 2011

      THAT dose not sound right

  19. papa
    September 9, 2011

    We Dominican to f…k bad when we hear bad weather we running and pray.

  20. yes i
    September 9, 2011

    FINALLY – DOMINICA MET OFFICE – IT TOOK YOU ALL LONG ENOUGH. YES I.

    I STILL HAVE TO PASS UNDER ALL THEM CLIFF AND BY ALL THEM RIVERS – YES I…

  21. dominican abroad
    September 9, 2011

    1979 i agree with you wash away the wickedness in them people, wash them evil. JAY RASTA FARI

    • September 10, 2011

      JAH RASTAH FOR A WHILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Again!
      September 10, 2011

      your dama&&

  22. dominican abroad
    September 9, 2011

    1979

  23. fat jo
    September 9, 2011

    please let it not be bad hurricane

    • September 9, 2011

      Ask the sinner you all call God to stop that one, he nor tony can’t do nothing with this God is in Control, calling a sinner Master and Lord, God have a lot in store for you Dominicans

      • c.bruce
        September 9, 2011

        AMEN MAGO. THEY HATE TO HEAR THE TRUTH ABOUT THEMSELVES

  24. 1979
    September 9, 2011

    I hope this comes and put the fear of god back in alll Dominicans, maybe then their dumb a@@es will remember that all we have is each other! i lets see who will celebrate party colors when everything FLAT!

    :twisted:

    • From Marigot
      September 9, 2011

      How stupid can you be. Is that what you wishing for your country? In everything thing you all have to make it a political issue. God is doing his work. What does that have to do with politics?

      • Nohogwash
        September 9, 2011

        What did God do to cleanse the lands? He sent rain for forty days and forty nights night, Dominica needs a cleansing. Unfortunately when it rains it rains on all man’s house top! Suppose God had to choose some people to save in Dominica on account of their righteousness and morality how many do you think he would get in Dominica. Do you think he could save Skerrit and his regime, the people that Dominica are destroying their souls for? I doubt it very much!

      • Tehbeh
        September 9, 2011

        From Marigot 1979 is just a TEHBEH

    • Tehbeh
      September 9, 2011

      It is truly disappointing to see how your are such an ignorant TEHBEH!!!! You have no assets to your name. The possibility exist that your are a 30something year old man still living at your mothers home.

      • vivi
        September 9, 2011

        and would there be something wrong with that?? i say he would be smart @ tehbeh

    • Travaile
      September 9, 2011

      After reading your comment 1979, I concluded that you are arrogant as much as u r stupid. If at all this storm devastates our country (God forbid), we all would be adversly affected. Poor naive minded soul. the rain shall fall on the just and the unjust (I’m having problems placing u in any of the above categories). sad.

    • Humanist
      September 9, 2011

      Do you know what a natural disaster is? Do you know how to open a dictionary to the word “natural?” Maybe? Well then, please do so.

      How utterly ridiculous, that a storm hitting a country is meant to “put the fear of god” into people. We are fragile creatures on a vast, scarcely hospitable (if you look at the percentages of how much area of the Earth we can actually live on) planet. Of COURSE storms seem big and scary, and some are horrific. But why do they HAVE to be religious symbols? Just let them be storms. Simple explanation for a simple thing.

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      September 9, 2011

      1979 I am surprised. Here was I thinking that you were an educated person.

      I’ve read you pass comments and thought ‘ well our views dont always tally, but yes I cound converse with this person’.

    • c.bruce
      September 9, 2011

      THE MAN HAS A POINT
      WE ARE DISTRACTED AS A PEOPLE.
      WE ARE DISTRACTED BY MATERIALISM, GREED, AND INDIVIDUALISM.

      A NICE WELL BREWED STORM WILL BRING US BACK TO OUR SENSE BY REMOVING ALL OF THESE DISTRACTION FROM US.THEN WE WILL BECOME A PEOPLE OF HONOUR AGAIN… AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF THE OPPORTUNISTIC RATS WILL FLEE.

      GOOD POINT 1979
      I SEE U ARE A MAN OF THE SPIRIT.

      …AND ADMIN MY GRANNY IS ABOUT TO PASS AWAY SOON. I WILL GIVE YOU ALL OF HER INHERITANCE IF YOU POST MY COMMENT. ADMIN YOU KNOW YOU AND I GO WAY BACK, PRIMARY SCHOOL DAYS, WHEN WE USED TO SHARE RECESS.

    • c.bruce
      September 9, 2011

      THE MAN HAS A POINT
      WE ARE DISTRACTED AS A PEOPLE.
      WE ARE DISTRACTED BY MATERIALISM, GREED, AND INDIVIDUALISM.

      A NICE WELL BREWED STORM WILL BRING US BACK TO OUR SENSE BY REMOVING ALL OF THESE DISTRACTION FROM US.THEN WE WILL BECOME A PEOPLE OF HONOUR AGAIN… AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF THE OPPORTUNISTIC RATS WILL FLEE.

      GOOD POINT 1979
      I SEE U ARE A MAN OF THE SPIRIT

      ADMIN: Why are you people posting the same comment twice? SMH

      • c.bruce
        September 11, 2011

        sorry my bad ADMIN

  25. Roso Boy
    September 9, 2011

    The warnuing is also for Supermarket and shop owners. After all the cashiers have a family,property and lives to protect too. So this is not the time for more business. Close the stores, shops and supermarkets to allow the workers to go home and prepare for what might be. The auhtorities should ree-emphasize that a “Warning” is not only for governmenmt operations.

  26. Prophet2
    September 9, 2011

    Hope it washes away some of the wickedness in Dominica, and some lassie so people can see the truth. God is good all the time.

    • Wait A Minute
      September 9, 2011

      Jackass!!!!!!

  27. spy
    September 9, 2011

    no body praying yet,still early hmmmmm,?

    • Carissa
      September 9, 2011

      I quite agree with you; some of them (not us) are busy hating, cursing and calling each other all kinds of names; No body praying yet; Aren’t we all brothers and sisters in God’s sight? Oh ye men (and women too) of little faith…..!!!

      • ....hot
        September 9, 2011

        well said. you know we should all pray :-D

      • c.bruce
        September 9, 2011

        NO NO NO NO
        ALL OF US ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS
        …AND ONE OF US IS A GOD
        ….WHO IS ABOVE THE LAW TO SOME

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