The Tribune

UPDATE: Pictured above is a Thursday 5pm tacking map from NOAA.

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

WEATHER officials are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Karen, telling The Tribune it was too early to definitively state whether the country would be directly affected by this weather system.

Geoffrey Greene, chief meteorologist at the Department of Meteorology, said by early next week experts should have a better understanding of what to expect from Karen.

“It should be moving back towards the west by early next week, so this weekend it will be moving to the north and then it will make a clockwise rotation and then move back towards the west towards us,” Mr Greene told The Tribune.

“So as that happens we expect that early next week we would maybe have to put out some warning for The Bahamas if it continues to move in our direction.

“If it makes a turn towards the north, again then we would have to put something out. It all depends on when it starts to make that move.”

Mr Greene said it was too early to say what portion of The Bahamas, if any might, be affected.

“That’s the thing. We would have to watch to see because right now we only know that it’s going to make a clockwise rotation then it’s going to move towards the west. We don’t know how far it’s going to be near the central and southeast, or if it’s going to be closer to the northwest Bahamas.

“So it will be early next week when we will be able to tell you whether we will have to issue warnings for The Bahamas.

“Right now they have it projected to be a tropical storm and then make that turn towards the west again. That’s only a projection and that’s several days out so that may be incorrect. It could be a hurricane by that time but that’s what’s projected for right now,” Mr Greene said.