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Written by LK Hewlett

St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): A flash flood watch is in effect for low lying and flood prone areas of St. Kitts and Nevis until midnight Tuesday as a tropical wave interacting with a trough over the Leeward Islands is already causing periodic heavy showers and thunderstorms which are likely to continue across the islands into the night.

In addition to St. Kitts and Nevis, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services issued the advisory for Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, and Anguilla.

A flash flood watch means that moderate to major flooding is possible but not imminent in the watch area. Residents in low lying and flood prone areas should make preparations for flooding to safeguard life and property. They should be prepared to move to higher ground if flooding rains develop or a flash flood warning is issued. A flash flood watch could be upgraded to an advisory or warning at short notice if warranted.

A small craft advisory remains in effect in St. Kitts and Nevis and beachgoers are urged to be cautious in the face of a combination of waves and swells reaching between 5 to 7 feet.

On Monday weather forecasters advised that the disturbance near the Leeward Islands had a 50% chance of developing into a tropical or subtropical cyclone within 48 hours and a tropical depression or a tropical storm over the next few days.

However, by Tuesday morning, the projections for development into a tropical cyclone were downgraded to 20 percent.