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The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm watch for a number of Leeward Islands — including the USVI, PR and the BVI, among others — as Tropical Depression 13, which is expected to develop into a tropical storm over the weekend, approaches.
Tropical storm watches have been issued for the USVI, Puerto Rico, the BVI, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Martin and Barthelemy, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla.
The Government of the Bahamas has issued a tropical storm watch for the southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands, as well as for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic should monitor the progress of this system, as additional tropical storm watches or warnings will be required for portions of those areas later today," said the N.H.C.
Interests in Cuba and the remainder of the Bahamas should also monitor the progress of this system.
According to N.H.C.'s 5:00 a.m. forecast, the center of Tropical Depression Thirteen was located near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 58.5 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph (33 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days. On the forecast track, the depression is expected to move near or north of the northern Leeward Islands later today, near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday, and near or north of Hispaniola Saturday night.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression is likely to become a tropical storm by the weekend, N.H.C. said.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches).
Rainfall
The depression is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through Sunday. Locally heavy rainfall could lead to flash and urban flooding, as well as an increased potential for mudslides. Some rivers may overflow their banks.
One to 3 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 5 inches is expected over the northern Leeward Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos and southeast Bahamas.
Wind
Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area later today through Saturday night.
