Hazard Management CI

10:43AM September 9th, 2021 HMCI is aware that an old posting from Tropical Storm Ida is being circulated as current information. There is no storm threat to the Cayman Islands at the present time.

ALL CLEAR Issued FOR GRAND CAYMAN AT 6AM CINWS 7AM WEATHER UPDATE: Friday, August 27th, 2021 Ida is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h) and this general motion should continue over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Ida will move away from the Cayman Islands this morning, pass near or over the Isle of Youth and western Cuba later today, and move over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico tonight and Saturday. The system is forecast to approach the U.S. northern Gulf coast on Sunday. Data from Air Force Reserve and NOAA reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts, and additional steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next few days. Ida is forecast to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, and to be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf coast. The government of the Cayman Islands has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Grand Cayman. The Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

5:30 AM Friday 27 August 2021 * All Clear issued for Grand Cayman at 6am * Sister Islands All Clear will be issued later this morning when adverse weather conditions cease. * Government offices in Grand Cayman will be open from 9AM

CINWS 4AM WEATHER UPDATE Friday, August 27th, 2021 at 4AM Ida is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h) and this general motion should continue over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Ida will move away from the Cayman Islands this morning, pass near or over the Isle of Youth and western Cuba later today, and over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico tonight and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts, and additional steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next few days. Ida is forecast to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico in a day or two, and to be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf coast. A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands.

CINWS 1:00AM WEATHER UPDATE On the forecast track, the center of Ida will pass through the Cayman Islands during the next few hours, pass near or over the Isle of Youth and western Cuba later today, and over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico tonight and Saturday. The system is forecast to approach the U.S. northern Gulf coast on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Ida is forecast to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico in a day or two with additional strengthening expected thereafter. Ida could be near major hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf coast. A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

T.S. Ida Continues Unpredictable Path Friday, 27 August 2021, Grand Cayman (GIS) – The latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) suggests that tropical storm conditions, associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Ida through the Cayman Islands area, will begin impacting Little Cayman area at midnight and Grand Cayman at 1a.m. The updated forecast is the result of yet another change to the track of the tropical storm, that will bring it within five miles of Grand Cayman, at around 3 a.m., Friday morning, 27 August. By this time sustained winds could reach 38 knots. It is expected that these tropical storm force conditions will continue in Grand Cayman until around 7 a.m. Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, who chairs the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), urged members of the public take the storm seriously and hunker down in their homes and residences until the all clear is given. “We urge everyone to stay off the roads and stay at home for their safety and that of emergency responders. This storm has been extremely unpredictable and it is important that we continue to stay vigilant and exercise extreme caution until it is past,” commented the Deputy Governor Four hurricane shelters have opened on Grand Cayman including: Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, the Red Cross building on Huldah Avenue, Clifton Hunter High School in Frank Sound, and the Elliott Connolly Civic Centre in Gun Bay, East End. All but the Red Cross building are accessible to persons with disabilities, and Clifton Hunter is an animal shelter. Aston Rutty Centre on Cayman Brac is open as is the Public Works Department Building on Little Cayman. Updated local weather information is expected from the National Weather Service shortly after 4 a.m. The National Emergency Operations Council will meet following the local forecast and share any new information on its response to T.S. Ida around 5.30-6a.m. local time. @caymangov

Reach out to Travel Cayman for any outbound Travel concerns. Repost from The Cayman Islands Government If you're in quarantine during Tropical Storm Ida, Travel Cayman is available to answer any queries or concerns and provide support where needed. Call 743-8463 to speak to someone. The Travel Cayman team continues to monitor those in quarantine at residence for their safety and the community's. --------------- MORE INFO --------------- As Tropical Storm Ida approaches, stay up-to-date and get official information from the Cayman Islands Government, the Cayman Islands National Weather Service and HMCI. Get news and weather updates here: http://ow.ly/sTdq50FZaTA

CINWS 10PM WEATHER UPDATE On the forecast track, the center of Ida will pass near or over the Cayman Islands during the next few hours, the Isle of Youth and western Cuba Friday, and over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico Friday night and Saturday. The system is forecast to approach the U.S. northern Gulf coast on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Ida is forecast to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico in a day or two with additional strengthening expected thereafter. A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system. #StaySafeCayman

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has activated the Gun Bay Community Center (aka Elliott Conolly Civic Center) in East End an Emergency Shelter as of 7:30PM tonight, Thursday, August 26th, 2021 in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ida

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), which coordinates the Cayman Islands response to national disasters, is activated and will work past the all clear. The NEOC Helpline, tel 949-6555 which is operated by members of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, is open until it is stood down @caymangov

Based on the 7pm update, the forecast track has the center of the depression passing over the Cayman Islands tonight, the Isle of Youth and western Cuba on Friday, and moving over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico Friday night and Saturday. The system is forecast to approach the U.S. northern Gulf coast on Sunday. The tropical storm is expected to become a hurricane when it is near western Cuba or over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico from Friday night. Residents are urged to rush to complete their preparations before weather begins the deteriorate and become hazardous by the evening. A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

6:30 pm NEOC Joint Communications Service Potential Impacts Shift as NEOC Urges Caution Thursday, 26 August 2021, Grand Cayman (GIS) – Tropical storm conditions, associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Ida through the Cayman Islands area are expected to begin impacting the Eastern Districts of Grand Cayman around 11p.m. tonight. Gusts of tropical storm force winds may potentially reach across the island the National Weather Service (NWS) officials noted this evening. The change in the forecast impact is the result of a new more northerly track for Tropical Storm Ida which will see tropical storm force winds reaching Little Cayman at midnight. Emphasising the unpredictability of storms, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, who chairs the NEOC, urged members of the public to exercise caution as they complete their preparedness measures and head home. “All three Cayman Islands are experiencing wet conditions and increasing wind speeds and I want to emphasise to everyone the importance of heading home and be inside before dark if you are able. We all need to exercise caution while on the road and while we wait for the storm to pass, and to stay tuned to local channels for any further changes that may happen overnight,” the Deputy Governor urged. Mr Manderson pointed to the impact of Tropical Storm Grace last week, as an example of how quickly storms can change their path and their intensity. Three hurricane shelters have opened on Grand Cayman including: Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, the Red Cross Building on Huldah Avenue and Clifton Hunter High School in Frank Sound. The primary school and high school are accessible to persons with disabilities and Clifton Hunter is an animal shelter. Aston Rutty Centre on Cayman Brac is now open as is the Public Works Department Building on Little Cayman. Updated local weather information is expected from the National Weather Service at 7p.m. The National Emergency Operations Council will also share any new information on its response to T.S. Ida following its 7.30 p.m. meeting. Flood and marine Warnings remain in effect for the Cayman Islands. @caymangov