Leeward Islands issue Tropical Storm warning

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jul 28, CMC –Several Caribbean islands in the Leeward Islands have issued tropical storm warning as a disturbed weather system with winds of 40 miles per hour (mph) moves towards the Lesser Antilles.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and St. Kitts-Nevis have all issued tropical storm warning for the “disturbance” located 585 miles east south east of the Leeward Islands.

A tropical storm warning has also been issued for the French islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Martin, while the Dutch government has issued a similar warning for Saba and St. Eustatius.

“Interests elsewhere in the Leeward Islands and Hispaniola should monitor the progress of this system,” the NHC said, adding that the system is moving toward the west near 23 mph “and this general motion should continue during the next few days.

“On the forecast track, the system is forecast to move through the Leeward Islands on Wednesday, and near or over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Wednesday night, and near or over Hispaniola on Thursday.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and the system is forecast to become a tropical storm tonight or Wednesday,” the NHC added.

It said that the potential tropical cyclone will produce total rain accumulation of three to six inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches across the northern Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin

Islands and Puerto Rico.

Rainfall accumulations of two to four inches possible across the Windward Islands.

“This rainfall may produce life threatening flash flooding and mudslides, as well as potential riverine flooding,” the NHC said.

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