Martinique warned of Hurricane Dean approach
PARIS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Officials urged inhabitants of the French Caribbean island of Martinique to stay at home on Friday as Hurricane Dean approached.
The Meteo France weather forecast service said the hurricane was around 100 km (60 miles) east of Martinique at 0600 GMT, moving westward at a speed of 41 kph.
"With the imminent passage of the active zone of the phenomenon, currently less than 100 km east of Martinique, maximal blasts can reach between 130 and 180 kph on the entire island," Meteo France said.
Electricity was briefly cut in some parts of Martinique as winds picked up, French radio said. Four to six hours of continuous rain was expected on the island.
Weather forecasters have said the hurricane, the first of the 2007 Atlantic storm season, was heading for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula or the Gulf of Mexico beyond.
Computer models have shown it could become an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm when it passes south of Jamaica early next week.
Category 3 to 5 hurricanes, such as Katrina, Rita and Wilma in the devastating 2005 Atlantic storm season, are the most destructive storms but a Category 2 hurricane can still damage buildings and create a 6- to 8-foot (1.8 metre to 2.4 metre) storm surge.
The French government has issued a hurricane warning for Martinique and Guadeloupe. Hurricane warnings were also in effect for the islands of Dominica and St. Lucia, alerting residents to expect hurricane conditions within 24 hours.
The Meteo France weather forecast service said the hurricane was around 100 km (60 miles) east of Martinique at 0600 GMT, moving westward at a speed of 41 kph.
"With the imminent passage of the active zone of the phenomenon, currently less than 100 km east of Martinique, maximal blasts can reach between 130 and 180 kph on the entire island," Meteo France said.
Electricity was briefly cut in some parts of Martinique as winds picked up, French radio said. Four to six hours of continuous rain was expected on the island.
Weather forecasters have said the hurricane, the first of the 2007 Atlantic storm season, was heading for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula or the Gulf of Mexico beyond.
Computer models have shown it could become an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm when it passes south of Jamaica early next week.
Category 3 to 5 hurricanes, such as Katrina, Rita and Wilma in the devastating 2005 Atlantic storm season, are the most destructive storms but a Category 2 hurricane can still damage buildings and create a 6- to 8-foot (1.8 metre to 2.4 metre) storm surge.
The French government has issued a hurricane warning for Martinique and Guadeloupe. Hurricane warnings were also in effect for the islands of Dominica and St. Lucia, alerting residents to expect hurricane conditions within 24 hours.
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