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Grantley Adams International Airport remains openMonday, July 08, 2013 | 4:10 PMBRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Local emergency services in Barbados have been placed on full alert as Tropical Storm Chantal races towards the Lesser Antilles.In preparation, the Department of Emergency Management plans to activate the emergency operations centre at 9:30 pm (local time) and also open Category One shelters from 6:00 pm to facilitate people who wish to shelter there.Deputy Director, Kerry Hinds told reporters that a pre-strike meeting which involved all key emergency personnel was held at the Emergency Operations center on Monday morning.She said public transportation provided by the Barbados Transport Board will operate its last service at 9:00 pm; however, the Grantley Adams International Airport and the seaport will remain open for service.Acting Director of the Barbados Meteorological Services, Hampden Lovell said the island should expect rains, possible thunderstorms and storm force winds but noted that most of the heavy activity is concentrated in northern section of the system.“We know we are in the hurricane season and I would think that all people out there would be in a prepared mode and would have things in place.”He also said there should be no significant change in strength over the next 24 hours.In the latest update from the National Hurricane Centre, Tropical Storm Chantal is moving toward the west northwest near 41 kilometres per hour and a west northwestward motion at about the same forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.On the forecast track, the centre of Chantal should reach the Lesser Antilles early Tuesday and move into the Eastern Caribbean Sea later on Tuesday.Maximum sustained winds are near 75 kilometres per hour with higher gusts and some strengthening is forecast over the next 48 hours.Tropical storm force winds extend up to 95 kilometres from the centre.A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Puerto Rico and St Vincent and the Grenadines.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver
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Barbados on “Full Alert” as TS Chantal nears
