Too early to say whether Dorian will impact The Bahamas, says forecasters
NASSAU, BAHAMS — Forecasters said yesterday that Tropical Storm Dorian — that fourth tropical storm of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season — strengthened as it moved toward the Lesser Antilles, but it was too early to say whether The Bahamas was on the path of the storm.
As of 11 p.m. Sunday, Dorian was approximately 300 miles east, southeast of Barbados and around 410 miles east, southeast of St. Lucia.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour.
It was moving west at approximately 14 miles per hour.
Additional strengthening is expected over the next few days, and the storm could strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane, according to local and international forecasts.
“A turn toward the west-northwest is expected on Monday, with this motion continuing through Tuesday night,” the National Hurricane Center said last night. “On the forecast track, the center of Dorian is expected to be near the Windward Islands late Monday or early Tuesday and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday.”
A tropical storm warning was in effect for Barbados, St. Lucian and St. Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for Dominica, Martinique and Grenada and its dependencies.
“Additional watches or warnings could be issued on Monday for portions of the Windward and Leeward Islands. Elsewhere, interests in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Hispaniola should monitor the progress of Dorian,” the National Hurricane Center said. Dorian is expected to produce rain accumulations of two to four inches in portions of the Lesser Antilles, with possible isolated downpours reaching six inches of rain.
