CASTRIES, St Lucia, Aug 17 2017 – A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Dominica.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within 24-36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 24-36 hours.
At 2 p.m., the disturbance was centered near latitude 13.1 North, longitude 54.1 West. The system is moving toward the west near 17 mph (28 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the disturbance should move through the Windward Islands and into the eastern
Caribbean Sea on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. The disturbance is expected to become a tropical cyclone later today or tonight, and it could become a tropical storm before
reaching the Windward islands.
Satellite imagery indicates the disturbance is close to becoming a tropical cyclone. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is currently enroute to investigate the system.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the Lesser Antilles within the warning area by early Friday, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area on Friday.
The disturbance is expected to produce rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches across portions of the Windward Islands from Martinique southward to Grenada. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
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