September 7, 2004
NewsMax Wires

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Hurricane Ivan churned toward the Caribbean on Monday, packing sustained winds of 115 mph and threatening to hit Barbados and other islands, after it strengthened from tropical storm status with unusual speed.

Residents rushed to install storm shutters and schools remained closed in Barbados, where the Category 3 storm - the fourth major hurricane of the season - was expected to hit late Tuesday.

The hurricane could threaten Florida, but it was too early to tell, Eric Blake, a meteorologist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, said. A reconnaissance plane would be measuring the storm later Monday. Residents of Florida and the Caribbean are recovering from hurricanes Charley and Frances.

A hurricane watch was issued for Barbados, an island of 280,000, as well as for St. Lucia and Martinique. A tropical storm watch was issued for Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.

"We expect it to maintain its strength but it's a smaller storm compared to Frances, so the eye would have to pass directly over some of these islands to cause extensive damage," Blake said.

Ivan weakened Monday, with winds slowing slightly to 115 mph from 125 mph, but it was still at Category 3 strength. Forecasters said Ivan could regain force by the time it reaches the Windward Islands.

At 2 p.m., Ivan's center was about 360 miles east-southeast of Barbados, moving west at around 22 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from Ivan's center while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur convened an emergency session of the Cabinet as residents and some businesses put up hurricane shutters and islanders rushed to buy supplies like lanterns, kerosene, flashlights, batteries, canned food and bottled water.

Serious Threat

"Ivan poses a direct and serious threat to Barbados," Arthur said.

Ivan went from being a tropical storm Sunday morning to a category 3 hurricane by the afternoon. "It is not very common for a tropical system to strengthen so quickly," said Robert Molleda, a meteorologist at the hurricane center.

Barbados' new school term was expected to begin Monday, but authorities told children to remain home. Teachers, however, were required to report to help prepare school buildings as shelters. Government offices closed early on Monday and Arthur urged private businesses to do the same.

Ivan is also forecast to move over St. Lucia. Several islands in the Windward chain could also feel the effects, meteorologists said.

"We have a major deadly storm approaching St. Lucia and we need to be prepared," said Dawn French, director of St. Lucia's National Emergency Management Office.

St. Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony called an emergency planning meeting and ordered all government offices and businesses closed on Tuesday.

St. Lucians crammed into supermarkets to buy supplies including candles, batteries and bottled water. "I'm taking no chances. This one looks serious," said 27-year-old shopper Cuthbert Lyons, who is St. Lucian but is on vacation from Britain.

Agriculture Minister Ignatius Jean said he worried about the storm's possible effects on the important banana industry in the region.

In 2002, Hurricane Lili destroyed half of St. Lucia's banana crop. The Caribbean banana industry has struggled to deal with a 50 percent decline in production over the past decade, due to both droughts and hurricanes.

Unlike the Bahamas and the British territory of the Turks and Caicos where Hurricane Frances blew roofs off and snapped trees in half, many of the Windward islands are poorer, with old wooden structures in areas prone to flooding.

© 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1194-2004Sep6.html