Hurricane Tammy passed over Barbuda on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Tammy was located at latitude 17.8°N and longitude 61.9°W which put it about 15 miles (25 km) north-northwest of Barbuda. Tammy was moving toward the north-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Maarten, St, Martin, and St. Barthelemy. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Saba and St. Eustatius.

The center of Hurricane Tammy passed directly over Barbuda on Saturday evening. Tammy produced strong gusty winds and heavy rain in Barbuda. Heavy rain was likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Hurricane Tammy showed signs of weakening a little on Saturday night. Breaks appeared in the ring of thunderstorms around the center Tammy’s circulation. The distribution of thunderstorms became more asymmetrical. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern and northern parts of Hurricane Tammy. Bands in the southern and western parts of Tammy’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Tammy’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Hurricane Tammy. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) was 12.7. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 8.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 21.0. Hurricane Tammy was capable of causing localized minor damage.

Hurricane Tammy will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Tammy will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the northeastern part of an upper level low over the Eastern Caribbean Sea. The upper level low will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Tammy’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. The wind shear could be strong enough to cause Hurricane Tammy to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Tammy will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Tammy toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Tammy will move north of the Leeward Islands on Sunday.

Hurricane Tammy will continue to produce strong winds and heavy rain in Barbuda during the next few hours. The weather conditions will start to improve in Barbuda when Tammy moves north of the Leeward Islands on Sunday. Hurricane Tammy could also bring gusty winds to Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy on Sunday.