Miami, October 03, 2023, Tropical Storm Philippe unleashed heavy rainfall across the northeastern Caribbean, prompting regional governments to take precautionary measures such as school closures due to concerns about potential flash flooding. As of Tuesday morning, the storm was situated approximately 90 kilometers northwest of Anguilla and boasted wind speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour (kph). It was steadily advancing northwest at a rate of 17 kph, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Barbuda and Anguilla were placed under a tropical-storm warning after Philippe made landfall in Barbuda late Monday, while the British Virgin Islands were under a tropical-storm watch. Forecasters cautioned that the most intense winds and rainfall would impact islands positioned to the south of the storm's center.
In response to the impending threat, authorities in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda made the decision to close schools and government offices. Similarly, officials in the French Caribbean territories of Saint Martin and Saint Barts opted to shut down schools as a precautionary measure.
The storm's impact extended beyond school closures and precautionary measures. In Guadeloupe, it disrupted the lives of residents by causing power outages affecting 2,500 customers and leaving several communities without access to running water.
