Carribean - Hurricane Keith and Tropical Storm Joyce OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0183
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
The Caribbean - Hurricane "Keith" and Tropical Storm "Joyce"
1 October 2000

This message is not an official hurricane warning or alert for any country.

1. The National Weather Centre in Miami reports that on Sunday, 1 October 2000, Hurricane "Keith" strengthened even further, menacing the coasts of Yucatan Peninsula and Belize. At 1200 hours GMT, the centre of Hurricane "Keith" was located near latitude 18.2 north and longitude 87.5 west (about 55 miles/90 km east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico's southern border with Belize). The hurricane is expected to begin a slow northward drift tonight or early tomorrow.

2. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the east cost of the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize, from Cabo Catoche southward to Monkey River Town. A hurricane watch remains in effect for the north coast of Yucatan from west of Cabo Catoche to Progreso.

3. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 135-mph/215 kph with high gusts. This makes "Keith" a Category Four Hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely today and tonight.

4. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Honduras, torrential rains caused by Hurricane "Keith" have been affecting the northern and southern parts of the country. No victims or significant damage have been reported so far. The Honduran Permanent Contingency Commission (COPECO) has declared the yellow alert in the northern region (people living in high-risk areas should be on alert and monitor the situation).

5. Initial news reports indicate that the Yucatan Peninsula was put on alert on Saturday, 30 September 2000 and precautionary evacuations have started in a number of small villages, south of the resort area of Playa del Carmen. It is also reported that in Nicaragua the entire country was put on low-level alert and more than 300 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas.

6. The National Weather Centre in Miami reports that on 1 October 2000, at 1200 hours GMT, the centre of Tropical Storm "Joyce" was located near latitude 11.7 north and longitude 60.8 west (about 60 miles/110 km east-southeast of Grenada).

7. Tropical Storm "Joyce" is moving toward the west-northwest at near 15 mph/24 kph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. On this track, the centre of Tropical Storm "Joyce" will move over or near Grenada later today. Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph/65 kph and little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours.

8. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Tobago and Grenada and its dependencies. The tropical watch for Barbados has been discontinued. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Trinidad, St. Lucia and St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

9. For further information and updates on Hurricane "Keith" and Tropical Storm "Joyce", please refer to the National Hurricane Centre (USA) at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

10. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers: Mr. E. Haegglund / Mr. C. Monteiro-Pereira / Ms. M. Kondo, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 13 83 / 19 97

Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53