Residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are being urged to remain alert as the nation faces a weekend of shifting weather patterns, beginning with thick Saharan dust and ending with a tropical wave.
While the dust begins to clear on Saturday, the weather is expected to deteriorate shortly after. A tropical wave is forecast to inch closer to the islands late Saturday, shifting winds to the east-south-east. This system is expected to trigger widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms across the islands by Sunday, June 28th.
According to the 72-hour outlook issued by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services on June 25th, hazy and breezy conditions will persist through Friday, June 26th.
Saharan dust haze is currently reducing both air quality and visibility across the islands, prompting a weather advisory for residents to remain cautious. Meteorological Forecaster Gregory Cato noted that a decrease in dust concentrations is not expected until Saturday.
Small craft operators and sea bathers are also advised to exercise caution due to above-normal sea swells. On Friday, seas are expected to be moderate in open water, with swells peaking near 1.5 meters on western coasts and reaching up to 2.0 meters (approximately 7 feet) on eastern coasts. While marine conditions are forecast to improve starting Saturday, caution remains necessary for those heading to the water early in the weekend.