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Tropical Depression Seven has formed roughly 800 miles of the Lesser Antilles, and the system is expected to be a tropical storm by the time it impacts the territory over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.
According to Christa Smith, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, the system is expected to bring rain and wind. "The main concern for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is rain; 4 to 6 inches of rain is expected for eastern and southeastern Puerto Rico, with up to 2 to 4 inches elsewhere. Strong winds are also likely, mostly in and around shower activity," she said.
During its 11:00 a.m. advisory, N.H.C. said the center of Tropical Depression Seven was located near latitude 16.6 North, longitude 49.6 West. The depression is moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next few days.
On the forecast track, the center of the system is forecast to move through the Leeward Islands on Friday or Friday night, and be near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Some gradual strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, and the depression is forecast to become a tropical storm tonight or Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it is monitoring the system and urged residents of the USVI and Puerto Rico to take the following steps now:
- Have several ways to receive emergency alerts and warnings. Download the recently updated FEMA App, available in both English and Spanish, so you can receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.
- Fill out Ready.gov’s new online “Make a Plan” fillable form to store all your important emergency information in a digital file. Share this document with your family so they know what to do in the case of an emergency.
- Monitor your local news for updates and follow directions provided by local officials.
- Take some time today to visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov to learn how you can keep yourself, your family and your pets safe.
