TROPICAL Storm Dorian is now located about 45 kilometres Southeast of St Lucia with sustained winds of about 85kmph.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Puerto Rico.
And a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Dominica, Grenada and its dependencies, Saba and St Eustatius, Dominica Republic – from Isla Saona to Punta Palenque and from Samana to Puerto Plate.
According to the NHC, “A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.”
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests in the Virgin Islands should monitor the progress of Dorian, NHC is stating.
According to the NHC:
As at 5 a.m., the centre of Tropical Storm Dorian was located near latitude 13.5 North, longitude 60.7 West. Dorian is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 kmph and this motion is expected to continue through tonight, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Wednesday.
On the forecast track, the centre of Dorian is expected to move across the Windward Islands and into the eastern Caribbean Sea during the next several hours.
Dorian is forecast to pass near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, move near or over eastern Hispaniola Wednesday night, andmove north of Hispaniola on Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it moves close to Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).
Rainfall: Dorian is expected to produce the following rain accumulations through Thursday:
Barbados… Additional rainfall up to 1 inch, storm total around 6 inches.
Windward Islands from Martinique to Saint Vincent…3 to 6 inches, isolated 10 inches.
Grenadines to Grenada…1 to 3 inches.
Leeward Islands from Guadeloupe to Dominica…1 to 4 inches.
Puerto Rico and Saint Croix…2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.Dominican Republic…2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods, especially where totals exceed 4 inches.
