Tropical Storm Tammy: Warnings in Effect for Some Caribbean Islands

It might be heading towards November, but the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is still strong. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Tuesday issued several warnings for this season’s latest named storm, Tropical Storm Tammy.

As of the latest update from the NHC on Friday morning, Tammy was located about 100 miles northeast of Barbados and 185 miles east-southeast of Martinique. It was moving west-northwest at 8 mph.

The NHC expects Tammy to keep moving north, but turn out towards the Atlantic, which would see it avoid a direct hit to most of the Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and more (see graphic above). Still, the storm will move near or over some portions of the Leeward Islands on Friday night and into Saturday, which could affect travel in those areas over the weekend.

For the moment, the NHC has issued the following warnings:

• Hurricane Watch (hurricane conditions possible within the next 24 hours) for Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. St. Maarten, and St. Barthelemy.
• Tropical Storm Warning (tropical storm conditions expected within the next 36 hours) for all those areas, plus Dominica.
• Tropical Storm Watch (tropical storm conditions possible within 48 hours) for Barbados, Martinique, and Saba and St. Eustatius.

Airline waivers
Due to the expected impact from Tammy, several airlines have issued some change fee waivers and advisors.

Air Canada has issued a waiver for VC Bird International Airport in Antigua and Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport in St. Lucia for travel on Oct. 21. Flyers can change their travel dates for free.

American Airlines has issued a waiver for Clayton J. Lloyd Airport in Anguilla; V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua; Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent; Grantley Adams International in Barbados; Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport; Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix; Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts; Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten; and Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas.

American’s waiver allows fee-free changes for all flights scheduled through Oct. 23. Travel can be rebooked in the same cabin class and to the same destination through Oct. 26.

Delta Air Lines has issued a waiver for travel through Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan; Hewanorra International Airport in St. Lucia; Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten; and Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas.

Delta’s wavier covers travel through Oct. 22. Rebooked travel must begin no later than Oct. 25.

JetBlue has issued its own waiver for travel through Oct. 21 for Grantley Adams International in Barbados; Hewanorra International Airport in St. Lucia; Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten; and Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas.

JetBlue’s waiver allows flyers to rebook for travel through Oct. 25.

Westjet has a waiver for Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba; Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados; and Punta Cana International Airport. WestJet’s waiver is in effect for travel through Oct. 21.