Graphic of the 2021 Hurricane Season's Tropical Storm GRACE Photo Credit: THE WEATHER CHANNEL
Tropical Storm Grace has formed in the Atlantic and is threatening to impact the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Sunday, the National Hurricane Center has forecasted. The system is also expected to strengthen as it approaches the U.S. territories.
A tropical storm warning, issued for the USVI and Puerto Rico, means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours, N.H.C. said. Tropical storm warnings were also issued for Vieques and Culebra, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Saba and Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the British Virgin Islands.
According to N.H.C.'s 5:00 a.m. Saturday forecast, the center of Tropical Storm Grace was located near latitude 15.8 North, longitude 55.6 West. Grace is moving toward the west near 22 mph (35 km/h). A motion toward the west with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of the storm is forecast to move over the Leeward Islands tonight, over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Sunday, and then over the Dominican Republic on Monday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. Weakening is expected early next week as the system interacts with the Greater Antilles. Grace is a small tropical storm. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).
Hazards Affecting Land
Wind: Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area over the Leeward Islands by tonight or early Sunday, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico beginning on Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are possible over the British Virgin beginning on Sunday.
Rainfall: The system is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts later today into Monday:
Over the northern Leeward Islands and Virgin Islands...3 to 6 inches. This rainfall may produce scattered areas of flash and urban flooding.
Over Puerto Rico...3 to 6 inches. Heavy rainfall could lead to flash, urban, and small stream flooding as well as potential mudslides.
Heavy rainfall from this system could impact Florida late next week.
