Tropical Storm Dorian expected to reach Eastern Caribbean today

Barbados and the Windward Islands are expected to begin experiencing tropical storm conditions later today as Tropical Storm Dorian strengthens and moves closer to the Eastern Caribbean.

Forecasters, on Monday morning, placed Dorian near latitude 11.9 North, longitude 56.4 West, or 225 miles (365 km) East-South-East of Barbados. It is moving towards the West at 14 miles per hour (22 km/h) with maximum sustained winds at 60 mph (95 km/h).

Barbados, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are under a Tropical Storm Warning, and Dominica, Martinique and Grenada under a Tropical Storm Watch.  A Warning means tropical storm conditions are expected in the area within 36 hours, and a watch  means tropical storm conditions are possible, generally within 48 hours.

On its forecast track the centre of Dorian is expected to be near the Windward Islands late Monday and move into the Caribbean sea on Tuesday. Slow strengthening is forecast during the next few days and Dorian could be near hurricane strength by Tuesday.

The storm is expected to bring up to six inches of rain in the affected islands, and forecasters say its swells could cause life-threatening surfs and rip-current conditions.

Source: CARICOM TODAY