Although Tropical Storm Dorian’s winds decreased to 50 mph as it encountered the Windward Islands, a Hurricane Watch has been issued for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as strengthening is predicted.
Here’s the 5 a.m. AST update from the National Hurricane Center:
500 AM AST Tue Aug 27 2019 ...DORIAN MOVING THROUGH THE WINDWARD ISLANDS WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS... ...NEW WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...13.5N 60.7W ABOUT 30 MI...45 KM SE OF ST. LUCIA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch has been issued for Puerto Rico. The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Hurricane Watch from Isla Saona to Samana. The government of the Dominican Republic has also issued a Tropical Storm Watch on the south coast of the island from Isla Saona to Punta Palenque and on the north coast from Samana to Puerto Plata. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Puerto Rico * Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Samana A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Martinique * St. Lucia * St. Vincent and the Grenadines * Puerto Rico A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Dominica * Grenada and its dependencies * Saba and St. Eustatius * Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Punta Palenque * Dominican Republic from Samana to Puerto Plata
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Dorian was located near latitude 13.5 North, longitude 60.7 West. Dorian is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through tonight, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Dorian is expected to move across the Windward Islands and into the eastern Caribbean Sea during the next several hours. Dorian is forecast to pass near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, move near or over eastern Hispaniola Wednesday night, and move north of Hispaniola on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it moves close to Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola.
